Fleeced In Stonington

Title: Fleeced In Stonington
Author: Rosemary Goodwin
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Publisher URL: http://www.samhainpublishing.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60504-889-5
Genre: {M/F} Mystery/Suspense
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Goddess Minx

Kate is excited that her business is growing, and her skills as an interior designer are needed by one and all. Now that she has almost gotten past feeling guilty about her husband, who died five years ago, she is progressing nicely with her relationship with Dutch. He is a hunk who knows what he wants, and he’s willing to wait Kate out for a permanent connection. She is concerned that her mother is not left alone, but wants him in her life.

Dutch is an ex-cop from New York City and looking for a quieter life in Stonington, New Jersey. He and Kate have previously solved a murder mystery together and now he is ready to move on to a Private Detective business. When the realtor comes up dead after their visit to his office, things progress rapidly, and they team up again to find out why people are being murdered. Dutch has the patience to work out all situations before him, and Kate is at the top of the list.

The second book of Kate Bart Mystery, Fleeced in Stonington starts out with fraud and murder. The couple is working together again and with their decision to help save the town’s banks, who knows what might happen. I really loved the comments at the beginning of each chapter that gave tips about how to redecorate your home. Kate and her mom are from England and from time to time, revert back to their English ways.

I was very happy to see that Kate was able to get past the feeling that she was cheating on her dead husband and was able to move on with her budding relationship with Dutch. These two worked very well together, and Kate’s background as a private detective helped them to move faster on their fraud investigations.

Ms. Goodwin has created a realistic, believable story and I found myself visualizing the antiques described that were for sale. Let’s not count out the murders and the villain(s) managed to keep everyone involved guessing. At this point in the story we have the villain(s) starting to threaten those closest to Kate, because they had figured out who the main players are. That forces her and Dutch to move faster to keep themselves, and others, safe from harm. I can hardly wait to see where Ms. Goodwin goes next with the Kate Bart Mystery series.