Cracks Beneath the Surface by Mary Ann Miller Book Review

About the Book:

Spring has sprung, and Easter festivities are underway in Field’s Crossing, Indiana. The annual egg hunt is a huge success, thanks in no small part to Lisa DuVal, the owner of Big Al’s Diner who dyed all of the eggs. But when Sheriff Jhonni Laurent discovers Lisa’s body in her catering van later that day, the happy holiday quickly sours, and Laurent begins a murder investigation.

All are shocked at the reading of the will when it’s revealed that the diner will be inherited by Lisa’s best friend—not by her daughter, which raises Laurent’s suspicions. While working to find the killer, Laurent uncovers some unsightly secrets that Lisa’s family had been concealing. Could they be involved in something shady?

As the investigation begins to take shape, it seems that the melting ice will reveal more than the first buds of spring. And when another body is discovered, Laurent must work quickly to determine how the two crimes connect—and who could be behind it all.

My Review:

The initial murder reveals a very complex set of relationships Sheriff Jhonni must wade through to find the murderer. There are a number of potential suspects. Miller provides a balance of Jhonni's personal life and her investigation into the murder.

There is a much ruminating by Jhonni and her deputies about evidence, possible motives, and who the murderer could be. There are also such ruminations after the second murder which was a little strange as we readers know who the murderer is, having read the scene describing the murder. Part of the plot involves the making and distribution of flavored moonshine. I didn't even know it could be made legally and was popular in some places.

This is the second book featuring Sheriff Jhonni Laurent, the first female sheriff of the small community. While there are a few references to events from the first book in the series, it reads well on its own. It is a good novel for readers who like the ongoing work of a sheriff in a small community.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

You can read my review of the first book in the series, Bones Under the Ice.

About the Author:

Mary Ann Miller has been a bookworm from the moment she learned how to read. An Illinois native, she moved south to Winter Garden, Florida, with her husband, Mike, to escape the snow and start a new chapter as a mystery writer. Bones Under the Ice was her debut novel and the first book in the Jhonni Laurent Mystery Series.

Oceanview Publishing, 368 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)