Meet Iris Hooker from Picked Off - A Guest Post, Review, and Giveaway

I'm happy to turn over the blog to Iris Hooker today. You can find Iris on the pages of the Brie Hooker Mystery series by Linda Lovely. PICKED OFF is the second book in the series and will be released June 5th.

Interview of Iris Hooker, Esquire, Brie’s mom, and City of Clemson Attorney/Prosecutor.

By Linda Lovely

My name is Iris Hooker. My husband, Howard, and I have lived in Clemson, South Carolina, for almost a decade. Our move here was huge. We’d lived in Ames, Iowa, our entire married lives, ever since Howard earned his PhD. He loved Iowa State University where he was a tenured professor and couldn’t say enough good things about his colleagues and students. I had worked hard to build a private law practice.

We had a long talk when Clemson University offered Howard the job as chair of the Horticultural Department. While I have to admit that the Clemson offer—a promotion—played a part, family was an even bigger motivator for us to relocate. Brie, our only child, was attending Furman University, a short drive from Clemson, and Howard’s twin big sisters, Lilly and Eva, lived in nearby Ardon County where they managed Udderly Kidding Dairy. Though there was no telling where our daughter might land after she finished grad school, we both wanted to be closer to Brie. And Howard wanted to see his sisters more often.

As it turns out, I’m glad we moved. It meant Howard got to see a lot more of Lilly before a texting teen t-boned her car, killing her instantly. It also meant we were around to provide Eva with much needed moral support.

However, I do have mixed emotions about how that accident has changed Brie’s life. She quit her job as a sous chef in Asheville and moved in with Eva to help her manage the dairy. While it’s not Eva’s fault, Brie has faced danger again and again practically from the moment she moved to Udderly. You’d think an idyllic goat dairy would be a safe haven. Wrong.

I keep hoping things will settle down for Brie once she finishes renovating the decrepit old mansion her aunts bought her. She plans to turn it into a B&B and restaurant that caters to vegans and vegetarians. It would be okay with me if Brie never confronts another killer.

You never stop worrying about your kids. I’d love to have grandchildren, but I know better than to even hint about that to Brie, who is now thirty-three years old. I had Brie when I was twenty-six. Studied for the bar while I was nursing her.

Despite my desire for grandchildren, I was glad Brie ditched that low-life she was engaged to once she found out he was a liar and a cheat. Now my daughter is seeing two men. I wouldn’t mind calling either of them son-in-law. Only problem is she doesn’t seem to be able to make up her mind which one she prefers.

Though Brie is definitely a daddy’s girl, we do have good talks. Of course, too much of the time lately our talks are sparked by the fact she’s gotten snared in a dangerous situation and needs legal advice.

When I’m not providing free legal advice to Brie and Eva, I’m the City of Clemson Attorney/Prosecutor. I spend a lot of time dealing with college kids who get crossways of the law, too often because of underage drinking. I also handle wills, trusts, and real estate transactions in my private practice.

It’s a good life. I can’t imagine a better husband than Howard or a better daughter than Brie. Just wish Ardon County would run out of criminals or at least have their nefarious deeds not involve my sister-in-law and my daughter.

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Review

PICKED OFF by Linda Lovely

The Second Brie Hooker Mystery

A Halloween themed political fundraiser for Eva's friend, Carol Strong, turns frightening when people start running from the haunted barn. The cause is not the scary decorations, but rather the bloody body of Carol's son, Zach, star quarterback of the Las Vegas Aces. With Zack in a coma, Brie tries to puzzle out who attacked him. Was it one of the local enemies from his past? Did it come from a disgruntled football fan or someone from his team? Or was the attack politically motivated, a way to bring down his mother and stop her running for governor? While Eva comforts Carol, Brie, along with Mollye, Andy, and Paint search for the truth.

Lies, deception, and trust are at the heart of this second Brie Hooker mystery. Who is telling the truth? Who can you trust? There are lots of characters with ulterior motives and plenty of suspects and I, for one, wasn't trusting anyone! The mystery was cleverly plotted with plenty of action and lots of humor. My favorite bits included scenes with Duncan and Rita! I could picture their antics as well as their heroics perfectly! Although not a fan of love triangles in mystery series, I do like the underlying friendship and camaraderie of all three characters. Indeed family and friendship is at the heart of this series.

PICKED OFF is a fun mystery that celebrates friends and family while providing plenty of action and laughs.

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