The Unraveling of Violeta Bell (Morgue Mama Mysteries)

C .R. Corwin
Poisoned Pen Press (2008)
ISBN 9781590585016
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (3/08)


Maddy Sprowls is back again.  This time she is investigating the murder of Violeta Bell who claims to be the Queen of Romania.  Maddy feels a close connection to the case because she recommended that an article be written that involved this woman.  She fears that her idea helped draw attention to Violeta, which resulted in her death. 

Normally, Maddy likes to keep quiet and just do her job as librarian in “The Hannawa Herald-Union.”  But one day her interest is sparked when she sees four elderly women get out of a taxi at a yard sale.  She finds out that they do this every weekend, with the same cab driver.  She thinks that it would make a great human interest story so she recommends it.  It is titled, “The Queens of Never Dull.” After the story is featured, Violeta Bell is murdered and the cab driver is accused, Maddy feels compelled to investigate. 

She discovers that the case is much more complex and interesting than she could have imagined.  As she investigates she gets to know the other three women in the group.  She enjoys discovering their eccentricities.  She also gets a lesson in Romanian royalty.  As she works on solving this case, she is able to find answers to another mystery.  She also accidentally gets to meet the president of the United States.

“The Unraveling of Violeta Bell,” is a laugh-out-loud mystery.  Maddy Sprowls is truly an irrepressible character.  I totally enjoyed watching the mystery unfold.  I also enjoyed reading about Maddy’s relationships with her boyfriend, her co-workers, the police and her not-always-potty-trained dog.  I definitely plan on reading other adventures about the Morgue Mama.


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