Review/Giveaway: Moving Can Be Murder by Susan Santangelo

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Another great read from Susan Santangelo!

I am still not fond of Carol’s “Beloved” but by the end of this one he was starting to be redeemed a bit in my eyes. I really love Carol, she has a heart as big as all outdoors and really just wants her house to herself for a few hours a day and her husband out from underfoot as much as possible. These two had be shaking my head at times and laughing out loud in others. My husband and I could be at the same place in our lives soon and like Carol and Jim we have two dogs that are a very important part of our lives so their needs and comfort will need to be addressed as well. The author includes a Moving Quiz in the back of the book that may be quite helpful to others entering retirement and thinking of downsizing.

The story does go a little deeper than a normal cozy mystery. We meet Sister Rose, a nun who taught Carol in school and even all these years later still strikes a bit a fear in her former students whenever she is around. Now Sister Rose is working with a group that helps victims of domestic abuse. This is a topic that hits home for me. A few months ago I wouldn’t have been able to finish this book and definitely would have not been laughing. Two of my children were entrenched in very physically and emotionally abusive situations and they are slowly making progress to get their lives on the right path and dealing with all they have been through. . Santangelo hits the nail straight on the head with her presentation of this issue. I found myself scarily identifying with one character. It really hit me how much our kids need their parents whether they are 5 or 25 or older. It is so important to stay tuned in  and listen not only to what they are saying but to what they are NOT saying. That being said this is a thread that runs throughout the story but the author never comes cross as preachy or heavy handed with this topic.

I started reading this book in the afternoon and didn’t put it down until the final page. I will say I read this book at a perfect time for me. I identified with the characters and was enlightened by the subject matter but I also truly enjoyed the mystery and was surprised at the ending. I am looking  forward to Marriage Can Be Murder.