Sarah Osborne

What a fun mystery! I enjoyed this introduction to Aphrodite "Ditie" Brown, and I'll be looking for more books in this series from Sarah Osborne in the future.

I will say that this walked a fine line as a cozy - Lurleen was the only real quirky character in the lineup, the police actually took Ditie seriously, and it didn't really give a sense that she was searching for the perpetrator on her own.

That said, the author has plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing and plenty of tension and a bit of danger. Ditie is a truly engaging character, and I loved the attraction forming with Detective Garrett - which, in future books, well could lead to a "stay out of the investigation, Ditie" situation, and lend itself more to a cozy. Lurleen is an equally fascinating character and I hope future books reveal more of her story because she is a hoot (but with depth). The story truly draws you in - this was a fast read for me as I couldn't put it down.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All opinions are my own!… (meer)

Into the Frying Pan is the second A Ditie Brown Mystery and it can be read as a standalone. Ditie Brown finds herself embroiled in another mystery when one of her old medical school classmates dies at a Civil War reenactment. She must also deal with jealousy from Mason Garrett, her detective boyfriend, when her old beau Phil Brockton IV comes to town. There are multiple suspects who all had a reason for doing away with unlikeable Carl. The murder was unique with the killer using an old cannon to dispose of the victim. The second victim also died in an uncommon way. It was interesting to learn about reenactments and the people who participate in them. It is educational and a good way to allow children to learn about the Civil War. Avid mystery readers will not find the whodunit challenging, but others will like the variety of suspects and misdirection. I was not a fan of Mason’s jealousy which was featured throughout the whole story. Ditie was not the strong, confident woman we saw in Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot. She came across as weak and easily manipulated. I do like Ditie’s interactions with the children. She is sweet with them and I like how she is handling the loss of their mother. Lucie is the highlight of the book. She is a smart little girl with a sensitive soul. I like how Lucie watched and took notes which helped solve the case. There are recipes included for the dishes featured in the book. Into the Frying Pan is a lively Southern cozy mystery with death, destruction and a deadly foe.… (meer)

Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot by Sarah Osborne is the first A Ditie Brown Mystery. Mabel “Ditie” Brown is a pediatrician who works and lives in Atlanta, Georgia. She is surprised when Ellie Winston, who she has not seen in two years, show up at her house. Ellie only shows up when she is in trouble and this time is no exception. She asks if Ditie can watch her two children for a few days while she handles a matter. Ditie picks up the kids from a rundown apartment that evening and Ellie is not in residence (she left them alone). After 12 a.m. Mabel gets a call from Detective Mason Garrett. Ellie was found murdered in midtown with a note that Ditie is take care of her kids if something happens to her. What had Ellie been up to this time? The killer believes the kids or Ditie have something they want, and they will do whatever it takes to get it. They only way to protect the children is to track down the guilty party. Ditie and the kids are in for a harrowing time in Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot.

Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot is not your traditional cozy mystery. The main character, Mabel “Ditie” Brown is a pediatrician who works at a refugee clinic. Some of her patient stories are shared in the book (sad situations). Then we have Ellie Winston who frequently leaves her two kids (under nine) alone at home and has questionable ways of raising money. Ellie is then murdered and Ditie is left with two children to raise. It is distressing that Lucie Winston (age 9) has been responsible for caring for her brother, Jason (age 5). The tales from the children are just heartbreaking. The mystery has some good components and there is action that helps move the story forward. I do wish it had been harder to solve. The responsible party can easily be singled out (if you have not solved this one by the time you are halfway through the book, you need to turn in your deerstalker cap). The small-town charm and some light-hearted humor (a little levity) is missing from Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot. The background on Ditie was lacking as well. The writing lacked an ease to it and the pace was slow (the book seemed long when it was only 244 pages). There is romance (of course) between Ditie and Detective Garrett. Detective Garrett should have focused more on his job instead of Ditie and fewer errors would have been made. There are cozy moments with cooking, eating, baking, and the kids. I felt that the author missed the mark with Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot. My rating is 3 out of 5 for Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot.… (meer)