Murder Ink - A Review

Review

MURDER INK by Lorraine Bartlett with Gayle Leeson

The Sixth Victoria Square Mystery

A tattoo parlor in Victoria Square? That possibility is just the start of Katie Bonner's problems. When her friend and fellow merchant association member Ray goes to the contractor working on the building to get more information he receives a black eye for his efforts, but the man who dealt it winds up dead. As the sheriff hones in on Ray as the killer Katie has to deal with her tea house manager quitting with hardly any notice, Andy's assistant being overly helpful, and questions about her new vendor at Artisan's Alley. Despite relationship issues Katie strives to keep everything on track and keep Ray out of jail. Will she be able to find the real killer, or will she have as shocking of an end as the contractor?

There's a lot going on in this sixth outing of the Victoria Square mystery series, almost too much. Katie is involved with so many projects and wears so many hats, not to mention all of her relationship issues, I don't know how she has time to breathe. By the end of the novel these myriad storylines did meld, but Katie's involvement in every aspect of Victoria Square, almost as if she considers herself Empress of the Square, is a bit off putting.

I liked the addition of Brad to Tealicious, although his arrival led to yet more adolescent jealous behavior by several of the key players. I love Nick and Don and give kudos to Nick's quick thinking leading up to the penultimate scene. There are lots of clever bits given by both the author and the characters which make for an intelligent read.

MURDER INK is a complex mystery with a fast paced satisfying conclusion.