 |
| ||||||
| ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Title: Murder of a Snake in the Grass Author: Denise Swanson Rating:  Must Read!
Publisher: New American Library, division of Penguin Putnam Web Page: http://www.penguinputnam.com Reviewed by: Heather Griffin Heather Griffin |
 
|
|
||
|
Swanson, Denise. Murder of a Snake in the Grass. Signet: Penguin Putnam, 2003. 262 pages. $6.00 Reviewed by Heather Griffin Student, Guilford Middle School Denise Swanson lives in Illinois with her husband Dave Stybr. DeniseÆs occupation is school psychologist. A few years ago she discovered that some small towns have big secrets. She felt that she was in a unique position, having access to things not a lot of people know. This was why she thought a school psychologist was the perfect amateur sleuth. Therefore she started the Scumble River mysteries. Scumble River is celebrating itÆs bicentennial in style. With rides, all kinds of attractions, and Gabriel Scumble, great-great-great- grandnephew of the founder of Scumble River. Then two of SkyeÆs students, Justin and Frannie, find Gabriel dead with a pickax through his chest. In the meantime SkyeÆs deceitful ex-fiancT, Luc St. Amant, has suddenly reappeared creating mayhem in SkyeÆs love life. Skye canÆt figure out which is worse: that Luc will drive away the men in her life? Or that thereÆs some terrifying connection between Luc and Gabriel Scumbles murder?
One of the best new authors is Denise Swanson, writer of amateur sleuth mysteries. Swanson shows how a little town is just like a big town- it has itÆs share of problemÆs too. Murder of a Snake in the Grass is by far the best book so far in the Scumble River series. I love her characters, they have such vivid physical traits and personalities itÆs almost like youÆre standing right there listening to them talk. Her settings are just incredible, you can picture everything just as if you were there. Her style of writing couldnÆt be better. Her plots just keep you guessing. SwansonÆs strategy is to bring out everyoneÆs inner snoop. She does this by ending almost every chapter with a hook. You just have to find out what happens next. Not only do her books have all this, along with being adventurous and dangerous, they are also humorous as well. Denise bases the character Skye on herself and May, SkyeÆs mother, on her mother. This gives them a little more edge in the stories, but all her characters are still excellent! I would recommend this book along with any others by her: Murder of a Small-Town Honey, Murder of a Sweet Old Lady, Murder of a Sleeping Beauty, and her 5th one, which doesnÆt come out until November 1st, Murder of a Barbie and Ken, which I know will be great because itÆs a Scumble River mystery. These books are mostly for adultÆs. However, I found out from Denise that a lot of kids around my age (13) have read them. ItÆs an AWESOME series especially the fourth book, Murder of a Snake in the Grass
Go Back read another review, or choose a different category. | ||||