This is the first in the Joan Spencer Cozy Mystery series, published in 1984. Joan, after her husband's death at a relatively young age, with her teenage son, Andrew, has returned to the small town of Oliver, Indiana, where she grew up.
She gets a job managing the local senior center on the advice of a former teacher. She also joins the local orchestra and takes a part time job as an assistant manager. During her first rehearsal, one of the oboists falls sick. After getting to the hospital, he dies from an apparent heart attack. One of the other musicians suspects he may have been poisoned, and he goes to the authorities with his questions.
The investigation falls to police detective Fred Lundquist. He is portrayed as a realist police officer, who questions the people around the victim and actually listens to what they say without predetermined ideas as to what has actually happened hampering his investigation.
Joan is not the usual protagonist in this type of mystery. She isn't trying to show up the police, she is just trying to help Fred with his investigation. Joan tells him things she has observed, and comments she overhears, and shares some thoughts she has, which Fred listens to. But she doesn't go out and try to take over the investigation.
I liked this story, and will be reading more by the author. The mystery was good, the characters were believable, and the flow of the book was smooth.
This is part of my 2014 Cruisin' Thru the Cozies Challege.
It is also part of my 2014 Vintage BINGO Mystery Challenge--Silver--I--Book by author never read before.
It is also one of my 2014 Mt. TBR Reading Challenge.
Oooh...a cozy series set in Indiana (that's where I'm from)! I may have to hunt these down.
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