Kellie (USA: NC) (2008/02/22): #3 of the Knott series- I enjoy these mysteries because of Maron’s unique style. I am always educated while reading one of her books. This one is no exception. Deborah is filling in for another judge in the coastal town of North Carolina coastal town Beaufort. She is staying at a small cabin owned by her cousins on the coast. The murder happens within the first few pages of the book. A local is found shot to death on a sandbar. Deborah and her neighbor’s boy find the body. From that point on, Deboarah begins to unravel the battle that is being fought by the locals over fishing rights, environmental issues, conservation issues and development. While Deborah is performing her judicial duties, she seems to become part of this battle. The only negative part of these novels is I sometimes find it difficult staying on top of the characters; who they are, what part they play in the story line and if they are related to Deborah (she has a large family). I have the rest of the series on Mt. TBR . One of my bookclubs is reading the last one and I can’t possibly read that without having read the ones leading up to it.
