The Dewey Decimal Dilemma: Book 7: Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles
By Linda Pirtle
Review by S. S. Bazinet

Description: Magnolia Bluff, Texas, is a typical small town in the heart of the Hill Country.
Just because it is small and everybody knows everyone’s business, the town isn’t insulated from murder and mayhem. Which begs the questions: Who’s responsible for breaking into houses? How are poodles, ghosts, drug cartels, and Ponzi schemes connected with a serial killer?

Caroline McCluskey, the town’s librarian, routinely catalogues books using the Dewey Decimal system. When a black and white poodle puppy arrives unannounced, she calls him Dewey. His arrival creates a challenge for Caroline. Now, she must catalogue events to identify a serial killer in her town.

No matter how many murders occur, no matter what kinds of mischief the town experiences, some traditions never vary. Come Monday morning, the early-morning group sits at the coffee shop’s round table to solve the world’s problems. Come Thursday, ladies sit in dim lights with their husbands and/or escorts in LouEllen’s Lounge and listen to romantic melodies. Come Sunday, all good Christians sit in their pews at either the Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, or Catholic sanctuaries to hear the Gospels. The killer may be among them, singing the loudest. Praying the hardest. In Magnolia Bluff, you never can tell.
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My Review:
In Linda Pirtle’s murder mystery, The Dewey Decimal Dilemma, the reader can look forward to strong, smart, capable female leads. But they aren’t trained warriors or flashy types. These are the salt of the Earth gals with titles like town librarian and retired school teacher. They’re ordinary people who keep things running smoothly in the small town of Magnolia Bluff, Texas. But don’t be fooled by appearances. These women are hard-hitting and determined. When the going gets rough and people start being murdered, they’re a force to be reckoned with. They know how to fire a gun and will use one if necessary.

And did I mention that there are party poodle puppies! These adorable fluffs of fur make for an extra cozy story. They’re also part of a mystery to solve. Instead of breaking into houses and stealing valuables, someone is breaking in and leaving sweet, poodle pups behind. I enjoyed how these little fur babies are part of the story throughout the book.

This is a cozy, entertaining mystery that has lots of levels and keeps you guessing. The characters are so well thought out that you feel you know them. And the descriptive setting transports you to their quaint Texas community. As I became immersed in the story, I felt like one of the customers at the local coffee shop, a hidden sleuth who was keeping an ear out for clues.

There are twists that I didn’t expect, but they made me so curious I had to keep turning pages. All in all, it’s a five star story! It’s perfect if you want a comfort read at bedtime or need a well-written mystery to keep you guessing on your weekend.