But Why Shoot the Magistrate by Patricia Sprinkle

Book Description:  When a popular youth pastor is accused of a grisly crime, MacLaren Yarbrough won't rest until she finds the truth. Her gut instinct tells her Luke Blessed is innocent. Still, how could the dream he had on the night a young woman was murdered depict the crime with such chilling accuracy? As MacLaren tracks down clues from all corners of Hopewell, GA, four like suspects emerge. But the police aren't buying her theories. Even her husband, local magistrate Joe Riddley, resists her amateur sleuthing. This case, he feels, is too dangerous. Just how dangerous, both of them are about to discover. The assailant strikes again, leaving Joe comatose from a gunshot wound to the head. And suddenly, a new question stares MacLaren in the face. It's the most perplexing question of all -- and the most personal: Why shoot the magistrate?

My Review:  The first sentence of a good mystery can "hook me" and then hook, line and sinker I'm into delving into the read trying to figure out the mystery.

Such is the case of this read, But Why Shoot the Magistrate by Patricia Sprinkle.  Here's the first sentence, "On the night of the first murder, a full moon sailed over middle Georgia."

Even though this is the second book in the Thoroughly Southern Mysteries series it is probably (in my opinion) one of the best mysteries I've read.  I was surprised that I had not read any books by  Patricia Sprinkle since this book was published in 1998!  I was enthralled from page one.  

I truly like MacLaren (yes, her first name), the southern charm and the great mystery of why would anyone want to kill a nurse and then blame the Youth Pastor.  Had a hard time figuring this mystery out!

Mac is on the case!   MacLaren Yarbrough is back in her hometown of Hopemore, Georgia, with another mystery to solve. There are quite a few eccentric characters who inhabit Hopemore and we also meet MacLaren's sons, Ridd and Walker. 

I enjoy a good clean mystery and I love it when an author writes about the "God things" of life.  Ms. Sprinkle incorporates a lot of God and Christianity into this short, fast read!  

Will be looking for more books from Ms. Sprinkle!

*This book was provided for review by Zondervan*

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