Mel encourages Jane and her best friend, next door neighbor, Shelley to take a self-defense class which is anything but safe. One of the women in the class is killed by her abusive boyfriend and the instructor dies of a heart attack, brought on by a conk on the head. Jane is too busy planning her weddings (there will be a small family wedding prior to the public event), planning the addition on her house (her wedding gift to her new husband), promoting her new book, and fending off her increasingly mean former mother-in-law to concern herself with more than idol thoughts about the murder. Mel doggedly pursues all the leads with a new, young detective eager to please and handily ties up the murder before he can say “I do.”

Once again, Jill Churchill has written a light, breezy suburban mystery. Readers will envy Jane her new career which includes long trip to bookstores ending with large bags stuffed with books. Jane is in a comfortable place in life, allow her to more easily deal with mother-in-law issues and children issues. Jill is very sure of herself, though she spends a lot of time consulting with Shelley, and then wonders why Shelley’s nose is a little out of joint not knowing that Jane’s second manuscript is on the way to the editor. Jane acknowledges her estrangement with her sister and wonders if this wedding might be a way to reconcile, but nothing much comes of that.

Jane’s globe-trotting parents do make an appearance, and despite all of Addie’s hard work to interfere, Jane still has the last word. And oh, the murder. Mel’s investigation is thorough and though several interesting leads are followed, there is a clear motive and suspects. Long time fans of the series will be glad to see Jane and Mel finally get their chance at happily ever after.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry