A tall cup of lemonade. Mmm. Cool, refreshing. Just what a visit to Pelion, South Carolina’s annual Peanut Fair calls for.

But no, wait a minute . . . Splat!

Not when the beverage is thrown at your boss Margaret DuBose, State Director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, just as she takes the podium during a goodwill mission to inaugurate the town’s new firehouse.

Quick thinking is called for. Action. Carolina Slade dives in front of DuBose, Slade’s lovely J.C. Penney loafers and khaki slacks catching the brunt of the sticky liquid — and thus begins PALMETTO POISON, the third installment of C. Hope Clark’s rousing and clever Carolina Slade Mysteries (ASIN: B00IE68F54, ISBN13: 978-1611944051, Bell Bridge Books, February 2014, 280 pp).

The cup-wielder turns out to be young C.J. Wheeler, teenage nephew of Governor Dick Wheeler. His father has been arrested and charged with dealing in illegal prescriptions from the VA, and the kid’s looking for someone to blame. Of course, he spews his anger, frustration and fear at the nearest government representatives: namely Margaret DuBose and her USDA entourage, Slade and Monroe Prevatte.

What boy wouldn’t?

Unfortunately, having recently solved a crime involving tomato farmers, Slade’s investigative proficiency precedes her. The kid’s not interested in being placated by a government agent imported from the Lowcountry for the purpose of arresting hard-working farmers on trumped up charges. With a squeal of his pickup’s tires, C.J. speeds out of the parking lot. The last time anyone will see him alive.

Single mother of two with a new house and a new job, constantly balancing work and her relationship with Special Agent Wayne Largo, Slade doesn’t need additional complications in her life. Coasting a while would be nice.

Yeah, right. When pigs take voice lessons and sing at the Met.

Slade is practically mowed down in the parking lot by her beau’s gun-toting, DEA agent ex. Her wayward, in the middle-of-a-divorce younger sister Ally arrives on her doorstep.

On top of all that, Dubose has arranged for Slade to meet privately with the governor — and the meeting doesn’t go well. Dick Wheeler requests her to monitor his brother’s case, to find out what evidence the DEA has on him. To keep him informed.

Not exactly Slade’s job. But plenty of fuel to keep fans turning the pages of Clark’s well-crafted PALMETTO POISON. This talented author invites readers to join her gutsy protagonist as she endures more irate family members of the accused farmer, being followed by a mysterious black SUV, her beau’s elusive sister (on the run from his DEA agent ex), accidents, a nudist resort, kidnapping and an investigation that turns deadly.

Clark once again delivers action, grit, tenderness and humor aplenty. If you haven’t read a Carolina Slade Mystery, I urge you to cut a fast-track to your favorite bookseller. If you have read the first two installments of this contemporary and unique series, LOWCOUNTRY BRIBE and TIDEWATER MURDER, then you’re in for yet another treat. PALMETTO POISON does not disappoint. I personally hope C. Hope Clark has a few more of these page-turners in the works. ( )

I think C. Hope Clark gets better and better each time she publishes. I won't dwell on plotlines, because I want to note that there is more attention to the character and personality of the folks that populate this novel. I didn't even remember that Slade had a sister, but now I feel that I know her pretty well. I learned more about the dynamics of her family and relationships in this novel that I had before. Not all of it is positive (i.e. the depiction of her mother's meddling), but isn't that the way real families are? There is also enough action and adventure in this book to keep us reading until late in the night. Wayne is becoming more real to me too, and I am beginning to understand Slade's doggedness when she is working her cases. Clark also chose a slick way to round out the character of Pamela, Wayne's ex-wife and then effectively get rid of her too. Well done. I can't wait for the next novel! ( )