Enter sister-in-law Juney who was married to Willis's baby brother for five minutes – okay, three months – before he was killed in a car accident for which they all blame Juney. They were married, however, long enough for Juney "to have a bun in the oven." Juney lived with Vera, had the baby, left baby Garth with Vera and disappeared for a year, returned and took Garth with her. As far as Vera is concerned she never wants to see Juney again. When Juney does reappear with four-year old Garth and leaves him with E.J.only to disappear again, all hell breaks loose.

E.J. sees Juney living on the streets in the neighboring town. When a body of an apparently homeless young woman is discovered, she fears that it is Juney. Alas, it appears that Juney is the murderer and the body is that of Trish Glancy, the schizophrenic daughter of a well-to-do local businessman.

E.J. must prove that Juney is not the murderer, find out who is, cope with a house being remodeled, a beloved family member going off to college, befriending a fellow dying of AIDS, dealing with her children, husband, and cantankerous mother-in-law, while being her own jubilant, curious self.

The characters are real, believable, and a hoot. E.J. is so down to earth and so aggressively drawn that the reader feels that she could be the girl next door – one you would love to have coffee with as much as possible. Her positive outlook is indomitable; her enthusiasm unflagging.

The solution to the murder comes as a surprise but shouldn't. All the clues are there, ready to be discovered. E.J. is not only a clever detective but we find that she is a moral one. The ending is sad, but realistic and true to her character. This reviewer can not wait to read the earlier offerings in the E.J. Pugh mystery series.

--Kay Black