When Sarah Winston started the virtual garage sale, it seemed like a keystroke of genius and the next logical step in her business. No more collapsing card tables and rainy-day washouts. But what began as a fun way to run garage sales during the long New England winter has become a nightmare of managing people and putting out fires. Online, she can avoid the crowds--but not the crazies.
May Be Her Last
She certainly never bargained on dealing with frightening threats. And when a client is murdered, it's time for Sarah to swallow her pride and seek the help of her ex--C.J. Hooker, chief of police. Forging a tense alliance, they search--online and off--for the killer. But solving this crime before someone else gets tagged seems virtually impossible…
- Thrift Shop by Macklemore
Sherry Harris, an Air Force spouse, set the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series in the fictional town of Ellington, Massachusetts, near the fictional Finch Air Force Base. These locales are based on Bedford, Massachusetts, and Hanscom AFB. Sherry's spouse was assigned to this small base in the cradle of the American Revolution ... and Hanscom AFB was my first assignment.
Sarah Winston is a capable military spouse herself. Actually, she's divorced from her husband, CJ Hooker, the former commander of the Security Forces (military police). Their divorce, his retirement, and her move off base played out in TAGGED FOR DEATH, Book 1 in the series. Once a military spouse, always a military spouse. Military spouses learn to be thrifty, flexible, and diplomatic. In ALL MURDERS FINAL!, Book 3 in the series, Sarah draws upon those attributes she gained as a military spouse to kick start her new career - garage sale adviser. Alas, garage sales are not feasible during a Massachusetts winter ... so Sarah creates a virtual garage sale site for the local denizens to buy and sell according to their New England thriftiness.
Sarah's success is met with complaints from buyers (who are outbid), sellers (when buyers pick up without payment), and a consignment store owner (who is loosing business to the site). These issues are nothing compared to Sarah finding the reigning matron dead after arguing online with her over the sale of a vintage tablecloth. Sarah sets out to clear her name and her business ... with a fluffernutter sandwich in hand!
ALL MURDERS FINAL explores life in a historic New England town where the residents struggle to keep up with the high cost of living. I appreciated Harris incorporating local traditions - wine from the packy! - along with the pursuit of a bargain in the digital age. Harris adds depth with Sarah's struggle to reconcile her feelings for her ex husband (based on sweet memories) and the very single district attorney (based on rebound fun). The creme de la creme was Mike the Big Cheese, a secondary character who hints at another mystery altogether. I hope to see Mike (and his cheese) in future books. I stayed up too late to finish ALL MURDERS FINAL! - I could not put this book down. I felt as though I was back at Hanscom Air Force Base, soaking up the history along the Freedom Trail.
I read the series in the following order: Book 2, Book 1, and Book 3. Harris takes the time to provide just enough backstory for readers to jump into the series with any book. And what a fun jump it would be!
I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries, New England, and bargain hunting.
Image by Jot Powers (link)
I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about an unusual food from your area. As mentioned above, Sarah enjoys the fluffernutter sandwich - a New England classic made of white bread, marshmallow fluff, and peanut butter.
2. Comments are open through Saturday, June 25, 10 pm in Baltimore.
3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, June 26.
Mahalo,
Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City
Learn more about Sherry and her books, including her Friday Finds, at sherryharrisauthor.com.
Poffertjes, tiny pancakes you eat with butter and icing sugar.
ReplyDeleteShrimp and grits. And I don't like either one, much less the two together!
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Northeastern New York. Local specialties were Glazer hot dogs and Michigan sauce. The Glazers are a regional re hot dog in natural casings, twisted off so they are not all the same. Michigan sauce is a hamburger and tomato sauce made to top hot dogs. Not really a chili sauce. Why it was called Michigan sauce instead of New York or Adirondack sauce, I have no idea.
ReplyDeletecan't think of any
ReplyDeleteThe first thing that comes to mind is Vegemite. We start eating it on toast as babies. People from other cultures & countries tend to find it truly disgusting. It's a salty, mineral kinding taste mostly.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea I guess geoduck which is gross. I'm not originally WA state as is.
ReplyDeleteBeing Canadian, we love Poutine. Especially with all the different types you can have now. I'm a pretty basic girl, slathering my fries with gravy and just a bit of cheese and bacon but some people get really hardcore with the new twists.
ReplyDeleteBreaded tenderloins are a Hoosier favorite.. Take a slice of pork tenderloin pounded thin, dipped in an egg/milk mix, then breaded with your favorite mix and deep fried. Add your favorite condiments and enjoy with fries or onion rings!
ReplyDeleteWe have several places that make steamed cheeseburgers. They are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we have any......here in Chicago.
ReplyDeleteWe have a Primanti's sandwich that originally was made for truckers - large Italian bread with all kinds of meats and cheeses but what makes it unusually is the coleslaw and french fries are in the sandwich too - they're wonderful.
ReplyDeletePork Roll - may favorite way is grilled or fried till a bit crispy with melted cheese & ketchup on a toasted roll or english muffin.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, good question! I know around here pasties are a huge staple. I'm having a brain fart thinking of anything else that is specific to us!
ReplyDeleteNo strange foods here, the book would be a good read.
ReplyDeleteGeez I'm in NY and everything is unconventional here and strange this is one of the food capitals of the world
ReplyDeleteFried pickles! I tried them but did not like them.
ReplyDeleteLots of people think stuffed grilled jalapenos (and the fried ones) are strange. But if you've had a jalapeno stuffed with cheese (sometimes sausage or shrimp too) and wrapped in bacon before being grilled until the bacon is crisp and the jalapeno is cooked through - you should try it!
ReplyDeleteCalifornia burrito : carne asada, cheese, sour cream, and French fries.
ReplyDeleteMy friend makes some yummy desserts with fluff.
ReplyDeletePatty B43
I'm from the Kansas City area so BBQ is very popular. I can't think of anything specific to this region. When I was younger, I used to eat mayo sandwiches LOL!
ReplyDelete