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Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
Half Past Death by Sharon Brubaker and James Brubaker is a charming cozy mystery with a clever sleuth and an adorable cat sidekick. Marigold (a.k.a Mari) has enough on her plate as a graduate student, but the beauty of Meadowood Gardens more than makes up for it. She especially enjoys the botanical gardens and can never get enough of the adorable garden cat. But when Nepeta guides her to a body, everything changes. With a visiting professor dead, all evidence points to Dr. Arthur Knight. Mari has no intention of getting overly involved, but she can’t let someone she knows is innocent be arrested, especially when it’s a family friend. The police have no interest in her involvement, particularly the detective on the case, which only makes her more determined to help, even if it means putting her life at risk.
Mari is a delightfully wholesome character who is an interesting and clever sleuth. Her love of books makes her easily relatable to mystery lovers, as she references endearing classics such as the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. Having the suspect be a family friend is a quick way to make the mystery personal for Mari, and gives you a reason to root for her to get involved. The gardens provide a stunning backdrop for the mystery, creating an inviting atmosphere. This pairs well with the warm relationship Mari has with her grandparents. The role of animal sidekick in this mystery is played by Nepeta, a sweet cat who guides Mari to the body and sets off a chain of events. This is a fun way of discovering the body and a cute way to make use of an animal sidekick. The dialogue helps to establish the tone with word choices that are upbeat and lighthearted. This creates an appealing mystery that invites you to join in searching for clues, suspects, and a killer. A delight for mystery lovers, Half Past Dead is a feel-good read that has all the charm, humor, and fun you want in a cozy mystery.
