Summer

15 June 2010

MAMA DOES TIME: A Mace Bauer Mystery - Deborah Sharp

From the back of the book: It all started with a phone call. I was just about to plop down with my leftover fried chicken, wanting to see if I could spot any of my ex-boyfriends on COPS, when it rang...What do you say when your mother announces she's got one foot behind bars for murder?
With impeccable manners and sherbet-colored pant suits, Mama is a true Southern woman. Who would ever suspect her of cold-blooded murder? But when a dead body is found in the trunk of her turquoise convertible, that's exactly what Detective Martinez sets out to prove. Now, to save their mama from the slammer (just like a tacky lyric from a country-western song), Mace and her sisters must wrangle the truth out of their small town neighbors and track down the real culprit.
**************************************************
People, people, people!! If you dig a supremely funny and well thought out mystery, get this book! I laughed myself pee-less throughout my time. It was my bedside book, so I went to sleep each night with a big grin on my face.
I was pleased with how the main character became an amateur sleuth. Mace knows Mama did not murder the man found in her trunk and, so, is drawn into the investigation to protect her mama from the big bad big city police detective newly arrived from Miami.
Mace and her sisters know everyone in their small town and set about asking questions, much to the possible endangerment of Mace and her sisters.
I kept thinking I knew who the bad guy was and I totally dug it that I was wrong and did a 'What the...??!" at the big reveal.
I am Southern by proxy (DH is from Virginia/Tennessee border) and I lived in Louisiana and Texas and Florida at varying times in my life and this may explain why I adore the Southern humor in the books I read...or it may just be that they, along with this gem, are just wonderfully written.
My favorite character, besides Mace and Mama, would be Ollie the one-eyed gator in the park where Mace works. He has an interesting charisma about him. Read the book and find out...
Five watch out for the gator, baby sparkly diamonds......

9 comments:

Deborah Sharp said...

Hello there, Ms. Vixen. I have to say you made my day this AM when I found a Google alert keyed to my mystery series, and it sent me to your wonderful blog. Thanks for the nice things you said about my first title, MAMA DOES TIME.(Maybe I should apologize, though, for making you laugh until you're ''pee-less?'' ;-0 You're a funny, funny gal!)
Hope you keep reading ... my third, MAMA GETS HITCHED, is out July 1, and honey, Mama is planning the Wedding of the Century. (She thinks the 5th time will be the charm). Thanks again,
Deborah Sharp

Anonymous said...

I have got to get to B&N and get the books in this series. I have waited too long. I can't stand it anymore. I have got to read this series.
Annette

Victoria Allman said...

You are right, Mama Does Time, is one of the funniest, best written mysteries I have read. Mama is a hoot that you can't help but love.

Mama Rides Shotgun (number 2 in the series) is just as good and will have you hoping that Mace can figure out the latest murder before Mama gets in too much trouble.

I can't wait for number three. With wedding #5 for Mama, I wonder what kind of mischief she will get into next?

Vickie said...

Deborah: Thank you so much for visiting my blog! That means a lot to me. I absolutely loved my time with Mace and her family. I love Mama! I have the next one in my order email to my favorite indie mystery bookshop, High Crimes.
Thank you for the compliment on my blog. I have a lot of fun writing my reviews, especially the ones of books I enjoyed as much as MAMA DOES TIME.

Annette: Thank you for visiting my blog. If you like reading books that are funny and well written whodunnits, then you definitely need to get this series.

Victoria: Thank you for visiting my blog. I concur, this book was a hoot to read and I want a Mama like Mace's Mama.

Deborah Sharp said...

Hi, there ... what a pleasure to meet you, Vickie! Hope you keep up the blog, as it's lots of fun. Thanks to Annette and Victoria for chiming in ... y'all are the greatest!

WonderBunny said...

Sounds like I need to check this series out.

Vickie said...

Deborah: It's a great pleasure to meet you, too! I will definitely keep on keepin' on with the bloggin'. It's a lot of fun and I get to meet a lot of friendly people.

RuthAnn: You definitely have GOT to get this book!

Mickie said...

Vickie, Vickie, Vickie

Your reviews have done it again!

Forced me to add MAMA DOES TIME to my 'need to read' list!

Thank you!!
Mickie

Vickie said...

Mickie: If I hadn't given my copy to Ann (in exchange for the cozies she's been giving me) it would be on its way to you.
You will absolutely love this book!