The Wedding Plot: A Mercy Carr Mystery, by Paula Munier (Minotaur Books, 2022, 342 pp, $27.99) Book 4 in a series of 5 (so far), reviewed by Skye Anderson
Good, Fast, Too Long?
Ah, the fourth in a series of five* canine murder mysteries (don't worry, the dog doesn't die) of which we have already read and reviewed two. Like the others, a long book that reads quickly due to abundant action over just a few days. Like Russian novels, there are a lot of characters that take time figuring out who is who if this is the first book in the series that you read. But, starting with The Wedding Plot still gives you the background and you will want to quickly read the others, too.
Characters and Plot
An ex-MP (military policewoman) with a military working dog she inherited from her fiance who was killed in Afghanistan, living in Vermont with an interesting and challenging family. Grandmother Patience is a veterinarian, a country woman with a wise, caring head on her shoulders, while Mother Grace is an attorney in Boston and quite the punctilious, detailed controlling woman. Enter, in this fourth book, the doctor-brother of our protagonist, Mercy, and a few relatives of Grandmother's fiance whom we meet at the country inn where the multi-day wedding extravaganza is starting to take place.
And we also have a love-interest for our heroine in the appearance in every book of Vermont Ranger Troy and his sidekick dog, Susie Bear.
The plot is quite convoluted which is why, dear reader, you should set aside at least a couple of devoted evenings so you don't forget who is who. We have a disappearance, a 20-year-old set of bones, a thunderstorm, some shots fired and the best hospital scene I have read in a long time (great for a movie)!
Plus, surprises all the way through in the guise of the author playing with her readers. "Bodhi stood before a cheap mirror in a cheap bathroom in a cheap room in a cheap motel." (p. 75) "A quick catnap and he'd be ready to go on the prowl." (p. 77)
Plus, when I came across a triplet of words that rang a bell, I went back to my two previous reviews** to find the same fun triplets. I may have missed some: it would be challenging to read this book in a book club and have a contest of noticing the most triplets! Triplets like 'snorting and sniffling and snuffling' with a bonus of 42 chapters (how I love short chapters - you can put a book down without losing much) that are not titled but 'titled' with a quote about love.
Of course, this book is about love and weddings and though it takes place in June (duh!), it would make a nice read in February, perhaps around the 14th.
And the Dogs!
For dog lovers, the Mercy Carr books have Elvis (Malinois/German Shepherd mix**) and Susie Bear (Newfie/retriever mix) constantly appearing. Thank goodness. And author Paula Munier does the dogs right. Elvis is ex-military and true to his breed(s) is always 'on point,' while Susie Bear lives up to her name and appearance as a big goofy personality dog - both well-trained and part of the plot.
We would have preferred, not a Mal mix but a Golden or Lab, along with different names than Elvis but those are minor points for a book that reminds one of the fun Spencer Quinn books with Chet and Bernie, like Scents and Sensibility.
*Book 5 is available for pre-order, Home at Night
The Hiding Place (book 3)
A Borrowing of Bones (book 1)
** helpful hint: the author refers to her dog Elvis as the shepherd at times. She means her Malinois x German Shepherd Dog mix.
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