Southern
ScribeSouthern
Scribe
|
Mystery Review |
        |
|
|
|
||
|
Fiddle Dee Death is a charming debut mystery from Caroline Cousins. The intrigue begins at the nineteenth century Pinckney Plantation on Indigo Island, located near Charleston in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Two days after Christmas, Lindsey Fox visits her cousin, Margaret Ann (nicknamed Mam), whose 16-year old daughter, Cissy, is a Scarlet O’Hara-esque tour guide at the plantation. The Southern repartee among the cousins and the liveliness of this novel begins on page one and is distinct throughout. The fast-paced dialogue continues, even after the ladies invoke the name of Nancy Drew and discover the cold body of Bradford Bentley. While visiting the island, Mam’s sister, Bonnie, joins in and the cousins begin their investigation. The post-holiday exploration meanders through various subplots on the small island, including Lindsey’s former boyfriend, family secrets, and all sorts of other intrigues. All of which leads to a pleasant, somewhat surprise ending. Fiddle Dee Death is an enjoyable mystery. Caroline Cousins is the pseudonym for two sisters, Gail Greer and Meg Herndon, of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., and their “first-and-a-half cousin,” Nancy Pate, who is the book editor for the Orlando Sentinel.
© 2003, Southern Scribe Reviews, All Rights Reserved |
|||
