While the police are more than willing to let the death stand as a tragic accident, Korine, who is working on the landscaping at Shady Acres, along with partners Amilou and Janey, learns that Olan was dead before Dora ran him down. While a resident’s death at Shady Acres is not uncommon, several deaths at the same time of seemingly healthy patients gives the police chief J.J. (also Janey’s husband) pause.

Having Korine keep her ear to the ground while working at Shady Acres, J.J. and Korine uncover several different suspects with motives, but is one person responsible for all the deaths, or is there a copycat in their midst? Korine and J.J. must dig quickly to uncover a murderer and protect the remaining residents of Shady Acres.

Three Dirty Women and the Shady Acres is a pleasant mystery with many different parts, some of which are unsatisfactorily concluded. J.J. has a pretty good idea of what happened to Olan, but it takes him a long time to reach a final solution. Korine suspects something odd is going on in the room Dora lives in while with Korine, but she doesn’t pursue her suspicions until it is too late. J.J.’s relationship with Korine seems very close for someone married to her business partner and friend. Korine is a stabilizing force in many family and friends relationships and even wins Cal over in the end.

It won’t be hard for readers to figure out who killed Olan and what happened to Dora, although Korine and her family and friends provide some company getting there.

--Jennifer Monahan WInberry