While planning her wedding, Sophie “Phee” Kimball gets sidetracked by the murder of a model train enthusiast . . .Â
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Phee’s marriage to Marshall Gregory promises to be the wedding of the year in Arizona’s Sun City West—that is, if you ask her mother Harriet. But before she can walk down the aisle, it looks like she has to solve one more murder. At a model train exhibit, Phee, Harriet, and their beloved Chiweenie, Streetman, discover the body of Sun City West’s railroad club president, with an incriminating tap shoe near his lifeless corpse.
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Wilbur Maines may have loved model trains but apparently he was not a model husband. There are rumors of affairs with hot-to-trot hobbyists the Choo-Choo Chicks. The police suspect his wife—and Harriet’s friend—Roxanne, who dances with the Rhythm Tappers, but Phee’s mom is convinced they’re on the wrong track. Before the poor woman is railroaded into spending the rest of her life behind bars, Phee, Harriet, and the book club ladies will need to do some fancy footwork, infiltrate the dance group, and find the real culprit before the killer leaves the station . . .
Release Date:Â Aug 24, 2021
Series:Â Sophie Kimball Mystery
Book:Â 8
Publisher:Â KensingtonÂ
Imprint:Â Kensington Cozies
Price: $7.99
Accountant Sophie “Phee” Kimbal and her fiancé Marshall work for their friend Nate Williams at Williams Investigations. Nate and Marshall are the official investigators for the Glendale, Arizona company. However, no matter how hard Phee tries to stick to the numbers side of the agency, her mom, Harriet, always finds a way to involve Phee in the “hands on” part of investigations. Phee finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation when one of Harriet’s friends finds a body at a model train exhibit. Harriet and her friends from her senior community are counting on Phee to prove the victim’s wife, Roxanne, is being “railroaded” for the crime.
This book is the eight one in the Sophie Kimball mysteries series. I’ve missed a few of them, but have enjoyed each one I’ve read. Sophie is smart and patient with her mom and all her friends. Roxanne, who suspected the victim was cheating on her, is the obvious suspect in her husband’s murder, but Phee and Harriet think a few of the clues pointing to the wronged wife are just a little too convenient. The victim was in charge of a local model railroad club, so as part of her investigation, Phee had to learn more than she wanted about the world of model trains. I like the way Phee, Marshall, and Nate compare notes on the case to find the guilty party. There are a few parts in the book where the investigation stalls and Phee and Marshall both overlook an obvious clue. Then Harriet’s “chiweenie”, Streetman, makes a surprise appearance at a tap dancing show and this comic relief comes at a perfect time to perk up the book when the pace had slowed.
Overall, the book is fun and entertaining. There is a satisfying resolution to the case and to the book. There is a cute map of Harriet’s neighborhood at the end of the book which shows the various landmarks that are important to Streetman! There is a lot to look forward to in future books as Phee and Marshall’s wedding date grows nearer. Eaton can be relied on for entertaining, cozy mysteries and humorous situations. Fans of Rita Lakin would enjoy the series.
~ Christine
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