A Hush at Midnight - A Review

 Review

 

A HUSH AT MIDNIGHT
By Marlene M. Bell 

It's been a long time since chef Laura Harris has visited her mentor Hattie Stenburg. When she finally arrives at the antebellum home she finds the 93 year old Hattie more fragile, though she's still up for a pleasant visit. Laura's more shocked at the brusque, almost hostile, manner of Hattie's caregiver. The bad feeling intensifies so much on her drive home that she turns around and returns to Hattie's where she finds the elderly woman dead. Where was the caregiver who promised to stay the night? Or the groundskeeper? Certain that Hattie's death was not natural Laura demands answers only to find out that she's become a suspect. As if dealing with her mentor's death and being a suspect isn't enough, someone is maligning her friend's bakery and she's receiving threats telling her to leave Texas. Will Laura find the answers she seeks? Or will she become the next victim? 

Laura Harris' return to Texas isn't quite what she expected. Though she's happy to be close to her father, his girlfriend is another matter. And while she got to see her mentor, the visit didn't go quite as planned. I did like attorney Brent Hill and, of course, I loved Moon Pie. I found there were more characters I disliked than liked however. Duska is an odd character and I never really understood Laura's relationship with her. They didn't really act like good friends and I don't know why Laura was a silent partner. Interesting relationships and an exciting confrontation between Laura and the killer held my interest though.

An oppressive atmosphere envelops A HUSH AT MIDNIGHT highlighting an interesting mystery.