An interesting series...

I'm still having trouble with Skye Denison, the main character of this small-town series. While I enjoy the author's use of locale and her knowledge of psychology, I find the character of Skye very unlikable. She has a need to help people; she wants to be seen as independent; she feels compelled to get to the bottom of things. Yes, I think it's all about Skye's feelings, not the people she hurts, alienates, and leaves fumbling in her wake. She lies. A lot. Cute, pert, trying to be funny little white lies. She lies to justify her meddlesome nature. I may never like Skye, but the mysteries are engaging enough to keep me reading. I just wish the main character had a little more integrity to go along with her mystery-solving acumen.

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Best in the series

Denise Swanson hits her stride in this, the third book of the Scumble River Mystery Series. Skye Denison is in the middle of an unfruitful counseling session with an uncooperative student when she is asked to check out a situation in the school gym. She arrives only to find that a young girl who is playing the lead in the school production of "Sleeping Beauty" is dead. Skye cannot resist the temptation to carry on her own investigation despite the objections of the local police chief who has been her off-again-on-again boyfriend. In the course of her investigation, Skye uncovers a lot of secrets in her small town, including infidelity and cheating in order to win beauty pageants. This book has interesting characters and a plot that moves along at just the right pace. Cozy fans will enjoy this series, particularly this book.

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Some Issues

This was a good book, but again, my favorite book so far is the first one (Murder of a Small-Town Honey), and I haven't read the fourth one yet, so there's hope yet.

During my reading of this book, I felt that Skye didn't really understand teenagers, or was for some reason bias towards those in the book. (Yes, yes, I'm a teen myself!) Anyhow, the storyline, again, didn't intrest me that much. Justin and that girl who's name I can't remember, were more likable in this book than Skye herself. Also, one more thing, through out the book, Skye was asking for too many things! I know it's her job to help the children, but I was annoyed how she would always try to find the principal to request he do something.

Overall, it was good, but I was annoyed by it. The one thing I'm gald about in this book, is that the author didn't kill off the murderer at the end! (It was a nice change!)

-Ater

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