TO KILL A HUMMINGBIRD

August 21, 2017

To Kill a Hummingbird (A Bird Lover's Mystery) by J.R. Ripley

To Kill a Hummingbird (A Bird Lover's Mystery) Cozy Mystery 4th in Series Lyrical Underground (July 11, 2017) Print Length: 247 pages ASIN: B01MPVNVR5

For Amy Simms, owner of Birds & Bees, nothing is more important than impressing her old professor, but this odd bird is about to fall to earth . . .

When her favorite ornithology professor comes calling, Birds & Bees owner Amy Simms hangs six hummingbird feeders around the shop to welcome Professor Livingston with a flock of his favorite flying creatures. But Amy soon finds that the sugar water in the feeders brings more than a swarm of hummingbirds. It also attracts murder.

Professor Livingston is just as friendly as Amy remembers, but something seems to be troubling him. When Amy pays him a visit that night, she finds the professor slumped over a table with a pair of scissors buried in his neck. And standing over his body is Rose Smith, the local bookseller, who claims she killed him. But while the police believe they have a bird in hand, Amy thinks the real killer may still be in the bush . . .

This book was good old fashioned amateur sleuth FUN!
The author takes a risk by giving a tease at the front where one character confesses straight out.
Of course that is so ridiculous, you KNOW she is covering for and protecting someone else.
Everyone has opportunity but what could be the motive?

The victim seems to be a popular book author with an unusual topic - hummingbirds. Not exactly controversial. He is invited to this small town by a former student who owns a bird supply store and he'll do a book signing at the local non-chain bookstore. How could he have enemies within the community?
Of course, maybe it was a crime of opportunity by someone suspected of random burglaries to local businesses who leave their doors unlocked. Or someone who took a dislike to his giant red birdhouse on wheels?

Besides tracing down a killer, our heroine must deal with the regular tensions of living and running a business in a small town where everyone is in everyone else's business. Plus having to learn about chicken care.
Settle in and get set to enjoy a fun read with interesting and kind of goofy characters.
You may learn a few things about birds along the way.

J.R. Ripley is the pen name of Glenn Meganck, the critically acclaimed author of the Tony Kozol mystery series. As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, he has chaired the Edgar committee for Best Original Paperback novel and served on the Best Short Story Committee. As a member of the International Association of Crime Writers, he has served on the Hammett Award committee for Best Novel. When not writing books, Glenn is writing songs, often singing them to the consternation of his audience and neighbors, or involved in one of his many passions, none of which have involved any of the dead bodies that seem to keep cropping up in his mysteries. For more information about him, visit glennmeganck.com.

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