When Suzanne’s lawyer, Bobby White, is found in his car behind the Cackleberry Club, dead and covered in blood, Suzanne takes it personally, especially when Sheriff Doogie begins to suspect those nearest and dearest to Suzanne, including her egg delivery man. After an encounter with Bobby’s receptionist, Suzanne learns that her late husband may have had some less than ethical business dealings and may owe town of Kindred in excess of two million dollars. 

Now more than ever, Suzanne is determined to find Bobby’s killer, certain that once his murder is solved, her husband will be exonerated and his memory restored. During her investigation, Suzanne learns of a compound nearby Kindred that appears to be living some sort of Amish existence. When a battered young woman comes into Suzanne’s life, and Suzanne learns of her connections to Bobby, the whole investigation becomes much more muddled and Suzanne begins to wonder just how well she knew her husband.

 Laura Childs has once again created a world that readers will want to visit over and over again, inviting them in as she explores each part of the Cackleberry Club, making each seem more inviting than the last.  The characters range from locals looking for a tasty egg to tourists and gawkers hoping to catch a glimpse of the now famous murder scene. 

Suzanne, who has slowly learned to live independently and be self-reliant, has her world turned upside down, yet is more able to cope with it than she would have thought. The mystery is intricately plotted as readers try to figure out how Bobby’s death, Suzanne’s husband’s possible misdeeds and an abused woman from a nearby cult all fit together, which they do, rather neatly, in the end. 

Eggs in Purgatory is a great start to another terrific series from the author of the Tea Shop mysteries and the Scrapbooking mysteries. Cozy readers will have another favorite to add to their must read lists.                                        

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry