Death in Reel Time by Brynn Bonner

This review is from an uncorrected proof for a book to be published March 11, 2014.  I will add a picture when I can find one.


When genealogists Sophreena McClure and Esme Sabatier begin working on the genealogy of their friend Olivia Clement they knew that would be looking into the mystery of her father's disappearance in the 1940s.  What comes as a surprise is that they are soon also trying to help solve the murder of Olivia's son-in-law. The even bigger surprise is that the two mysteries, some 60+ years apart, have so very much in common


Death in Reel Time by Brynn Bonner is a delightful cozy mystery and the second book in the A Family History Mystery series.  (I haven't read the first book in the series but hope to be correcting that oversight very shortly)  Written in the first person from Sophreena's point-of-view this is a well thought out and satisfying mystery.  Not hugely long it is a quick but not rushed story which eases you into both mysteries in a believable way.  While I did guess part of who-done-what it wasn't until after the middle of the book and didn't detract from the enjoyment of the plot.  After all being able to guess at the mystery is more that half the fun of these type of stories.

As with most cozy mysteries part of the fun of the book is that it is populated by so many interesting and diverse characters.  The characters in this one, though somewhat quirky, (something almost required by this genre) are more believable then most and feel like a group of people you could expect to be interacting in a small town.  The relationships throughout the book are both realistic and enjoyable.  I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the genre and can attest to the fact that you don't need to read the first book in the series to enjoy this one.