The Sleuth Sisters

By: Maggie Pill

Narrated by: Judy Blue, Anne Jacques, Laura Bednarski

We love our sisters, right? It's just that sometimes we love them because of, and sometimes we love them in spite of. But when murder's the crime and solving's your line, sisters count on sisters. It's a family thing.

©2014 Maggie Pill (P)2014 Maggie Pill

Promising First Episode

Good basis for more stories, although one would hope that not all the mysteries include deaths or the small town will be bereft of occupants soon. One of the sisters, Barbara, has a spelling and grammar fetish. It's a funny gambit. She goes around fixing signs and writing letters, anonymously, to the paper. Therefore I was quite surprised to hear Barbara's narrator mispronounce detritus.
Interesting idea to have 3 narrators, one for each sister, but they could stop emphasizing so many words and sound more natural. The sisters mostly take care of themselves and each other and only call in the guys when absolutely necessary.
Looking forward to the next book.

Three narrators definitely helped make the book!

I suppose this one might qualify as chick-lit, although I could easily see a similar story featuring three brothers with the same family dynamics. At first, I didn't really care for the youngest sister, Retta, much at all; she seemed as though she did get far in using her looks. Barb, the oldest, came off as a tad cold, although she had her moments. As the book went on, I did feel for the middle sister, Faye, having to play "double agent" with both Barb (in terms of keeping Retta from officially joining the agency), as well as Retta (maintaining friendly contact in spite of that). By the end, I was left with the feeling that Barb and Retta are just so different that they can't really identify with each other much, rather than any sort of actual clear animosity. As a bit of a spoiler, there's a clue that Retta's involvements will be "tolerated" on an unofficial basis, even if her sisters aren't ready to have her join the agency as a partner; Retta seenms as though she'd be okay with that, so I would be as well.

Three stars instead of four owing to the plot itself, which like many series set-up books isn't the strongest. I lost track a few times of who was where doing what with the rotating narration, feeling that it wasn't worth the time to keep going back.

If possible, I'd strongly recommend listening to the audio edition, where having three narrators with very distinct voices helps the reader get into character. That's not to say that when each has to voice the others as part of dialogue it didn't work. Barb's reader came across successfully as an older, never married attorney; I can relate to her surprise, and slow acceptance, when one of the characters shows an unexpected interest in her. Faye sounded a bit ... flat to me at first, but I came to realize that her life had been much ... quieter (shall we say) than her attorney sister, or more aggressively flamboyant one. Interestingly, she's the only one given a pronounced Michigan accent. Retta's voice came across as the closest to one I might expect for a cozy mystery audio - a bit snarky, though not obnoxious; her persona keeps the book from just plodding along with the more serious voices of her sisters.

I'm quite interested to see how a second adventure would turn out.

Intelligent women, good story

I loved this. The characters are really well drawn, their lives much more realistic than the heroines of most cozy mysteries. The women are intelligent and mature, which is refreshing, and the different personalities make for good family dynamics.
I enjoyed the 3 narrators a lot - all 3 did an excellent job.. Seeing things from 3 points of view was completely unique and added a lot to the book.
The mystery itself was pretty interesting and made a good start to the series. Looking forward to listening to the rest!

OH! OH! THIS IS SUCH A GOOD BOOK!

Two sisters start a PI business, so what could go wrong? Third sister of course! Perhaps it is because I had two sisters that I could relate to this story so well, or maybe it is just an excellent story!!

The different narrators helps to keep things straight and it is a great cozy mystery. I couldn't help but love Gabe. Give it a try, I really think you will like it.

hope 2 c more of these books

loved it, great read, hope to see more, thanks. :)