On the Nickel
A Cleopatra Jones Mystery by Maggie Toussaint
Review: When Cleopatra "Cleo" Jones's mother is implicated in the hit-and-run death of Erica Hodges, a "pillar" of the community — but not a very widely respected one — she rushes to identify the real killer in On the Nickel, the second mystery in this series by Maggie Toussaint.
There is little doubt that car used to kill Erica belonged to Dee, Cleo's mother. But Cleo refuses to believe Dee could have been the driver — even though Dee and Erica had a very public argument just days before and Dee refuses to disclose where she was at the time of Erica's death. Cleo believes that someone is framing her mother for the murder, and is determined to find out who. As an accountant, she reasons that the first and best course of action is to "follow the money"; who benefits from Erica's death? With the help of her best friend, Jonette, and her boyfriend, Rafe, Cleo sets out to clear her mother's name.
On the Nickel is a fast-reading, generally enjoyable if not terribly demanding mystery, replete with agreeable characters and a picturesque setting. There are several family-driven subplots here involving Cleo's daughters, her ex-husband, even her pregnant St. Bernard Madonna, as well as her evolving romantic relationship with golf instructor Rafe that help fill out the rather weakly developed murder mystery plot and add elements of humor to the story.
Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of On the Nickel.
Acknowledgment: Maggie Toussaint provided a copy of On the Nickel for this review.
Review Copyright © 2011 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved
Location(s) referenced in On the Nickel: Maryland
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On the Nickel by Maggie Toussaint
Publisher: Five Star
Format: Hardcover
ISBN-10: 1-59414-954-2
ISBN-13: 978-1-59414-954-2
Publication Date: April 2011
List Price: $25.95
Synopsis (from the publisher): Mama’s strange behavior jolts accountant Cleopatra Jones from her whirl of late summer activities with her daughters, pregnant Saint Bernard, and new boyfriend. When Cleo overhears the heated argument between Mama and her church-lady rival, Erica Hodges, she realizes Mama is out of control. The police report Erica files about Mama’s threats add to Cleo’s growing unease.
Two days later, Erica is dead, the victim of a hit and run. Though Erica’s reputation of arrogance, bossiness, and rudeness is well-deserved, she descended from the town’s founder. The mayor pressures the police to obtain justice for the town’s leading citizen.
To Cleo’s horror, there’s a person-sized dent in Mama’s gray Olds. Mama denies killing Erica but refuses to account for her whereabouts that night. Mama’s secrets are maddening, but are they deadly?