Brenna isn’t offering an opinion on the couple, other than she is pleased to be asked to decoupage the couple’s wedding favors which could prove a big boon to her and friend Tenley’s vintage paper/decoupage store. 

Brenna and Tenley even agree to accompany the bridal party on a girls’ only evening, even though they are almost ten years older than the young women. Brenna’s pact to stay out of trouble is short lived as when she tries to rouse the bride the morning after the party, she finds the groom’s best friend in bed with the bride. The best friend, Clue, is also dead and Tara is holding the murder weapon in her hand. 

Tara is hysterical because she cannot remember anything about the evening and is very distraught to think that she may have slept with Clue and that Jake may believe that. Feeling vulnerable and friendless in her new town, Tara turns to Brenna to help her reconstruct the evening and figure out exactly what happened in the hopes of saving her soon-to-be marriage.

Against the advice of her landlord, Nate, for whom Brenna has developed some serious feelings, and would-be suitor Dom, a reformed mobster, for whom Brenna doesn’t have romantic feelings, but is willing to consider since Nate doesn’t seem to be making any moves, Brenna begins asking some questions and looking into Clue’s past and present, finding many women scorned, a missing girlfriend, and a recently pregnant girlfriend. After Jake is arrested for the murder, Brenna turns up her investigation hoping to help the young couple and bring a murderer to justice. 

 Cut to the Corpse is a well-plotted mystery with a fairly easy solution that is almost a letdown after all the red herrings and clues Brenna uncovers.  Brenna is mostly a likable character, but her ambivalence where Nate and Dom are concerned, while understandable, is frustrating as her unwillingness to be more direct with Nate. Nate trusts Brenna with his dog Hank and quietly flirts with her, but Brenna often seems impatient with his seeming unwillingness to take the next step in their friendship, even though all indications point toward his interest in Brenna. 

Tara, while a character many would expect to dislike, is very genuine and real, willing to take Jake with any past relationships he comes with and willing to stand by him when she’s arrested for Clue’s murder. A quick read with some likable characters, Cut to the Corpse will appeal to readers who like a crafty mystery.                                                                

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry