Her latest body is high school cheerleader and star of the upcoming production of Sleeping Beauty, Lorelei Ingels. Lorelei was involved with local and state beauty pageants and many expected her to begin competing on a national level soon. As Skye helps Lorelei's classmates and her younger sister and her friends deal with the death of the young beauty, she learns that everyone did not love Lorelei as much as it appeared.

Against Wally's advice and threats, Skye begins putting together bits of information gleaned from her counseling sessions, and even takes advantage of her relationship with local undertaker to try and get more information. At every turn Skye is met with resistance; the principal and board are more interested in keeping the investigation as far from the school as they can than in helping the students deal with Lorelei’s death.

Death of a Sleeping Beauty is a warm slice of small town life in Midwestern America. Skye is a warm, caring counselor who puts the welfare of her students above all else. As an amateur sleuth, Skye is very intuitive and intrepid and goes with her gut, even if it angers Chief Boyd, with whom she is hoping to develop a relationship at some point. She is acquiring a strong network of close friends and family to depend on in Scumble River, and they are slowly learning that Skye can be counted on to come through in a crisis.

The mystery is well plotted with several plausible suspects and many motives. The setting, teenage and preteen beauty pageants, is unusual and Denise Swanson offers some unusual insights into these controversial contests. Death of a Sleeping Beauty is a warm, delightful mystery with interesting characters and an enduring heroine that readers will look forward to visiting with over and over again.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry