The Case of the Artist's Mistake

The Sweetbrier Inn Mysteries, Book Two

By: Jan Drexler

Narrated by: Gillian Wiggin

The new art gallery in town is causing quite a stir, and Emma is in the middle of it!

The Sweetbrier Inn is filled with guests, and the town is teeming with tourists who have come to celebrate Paragon Days, the official kickoff to the summer tourist season. But even before the festivities start, amateur sleuth Emma Blackwood stumbles upon a dead body.

With no visible signs of violence, Deputy Cal determines the death is from natural causes, but Emma isn’t so sure. Why would a seemingly healthy woman drop dead? And what does the picture she was holding have to do with it? If Emma doesn’t solve this puzzle soon, a killer may get away with committing the perfect crime.

©2022 Jan Drexler (P)2024 Jan Drexler

Agatha Christie meets the Dakotas

Cozy mysteries are back at the Sweetbriar. After the first book I knew I had to keep in in the series. As Emma becomes more a part of the community, the investigation shifts beyond the Inn's property and has us engaging with the larger Dakotan community, from Custer Park to Hill City.

This time around there are really satisfying twists and turns that had me guessing till the very end --though I'm happy to have figured some of it out. As they frequently reference the works of Agatha Christie in this novel, the parallels are clear to find and very enjoyable.

The narrator handles a large cast of characters with clear definition, and the climax with the villain (don't worry, no spoilers) was devastating. I'd encourage a listen rather than a read!