Reviewed by Heather Stockard for Readers' Favorite

The seventh installment of the Ginger Barnes Cozy Mystery Books series, Lie Like a Rug, finds Gin tangled up in a courtroom drama. While escorting a troubled student to his appointment with a judge, she finds out that her childhood babysitter, Charlie, is on trial for fraud, accused of passing off an artificially aged rug as an antique. To complicate matters, witnesses begin dropping dead and suspicion naturally falls on Charlie and his nervous wife. Gin is sure there must be more to the story, a theory that’s confirmed when Charlie’s lawyer asks for her help. The old man is hiding something that could prove his innocence and they need to find out what it is. Gin begins her investigation at the school where Charlie used to teach, but before she can uncover his secrets, things get out of hand. Gin must rush to find the true killer before Charlie is convicted, and before anyone else is murdered.

Lie Like a Rug by Donna Huston Murray is a cleverly plotted mystery with an interesting story line and great characters. Though it’s the seventh in a series, it works perfectly as a stand-alone book. The characters feel realistic, as do their relationships with each other. The snapshots of family life contrast well with the suspense of the trial and investigation, and the secondary story line about the troubled student ties in well. Murray keeps readers guessing all the way to the end, with twists and turns and red herrings. This engrossing page-turner is a must-read for any lover of cozy mysteries.