The Dog Gone Diamond Dilemma (Book 10): Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles
By Linda Pirtle
Review by S. S. Bazinet

Description: Lately, Magnolia Bluff, a quiet little community in the Texas Hill Country near the Burnet Reservoir, has seen too many gruesome murders. In Linda Pirtle’s The Dewey Decimal Dilemma, Caroline, the town’s librarian, found the body of her friend Terresa Brown in the alley which separated their Victorian homes. Terresa was only the first to be targeted.

Six months have passed since Caroline McCluskey’s friend, neighbor, and fellow Standard Poodle owner, Esther, disappeared while visiting the Magnolia Bluff Public Library. Left behind were her new crimson hat and her dog named Adam. Neither the local police nor the FBI have been able to find her. Caroline temporarily adopts Adam. She plans on reuniting him with his owner. Description continued here.

Review: A Cozy Town, Mystery and Adorable Poodle Pups!

For Caroline, the town’s librarian, Magnolia Bluff is a wonderful place to live. Or it was a wonderful place until people started getting murdered. Now her friend and neighbor, Esther, has been missing for months. Since none of the authorities can find Esther, Caroline and her friends have to start their own search. They don’t realize how much danger awaits them.

“The Dog Gone Diamond Dilemma” is set in Magnolia Bluff. I’ve become acquainted with the town after reading some of the other books in the series. With Linda Pirtle’s heartwarming descriptions, I felt like I was revisiting a place I knew and loved. But if this is your first visit to Magnolia Bluff, don’t worry. Pirtle makes sure to acquaint you with its citizens with the skill of a seasoned writer. Her story pulls you in with a sense of community spirit and warmth throughout. Just stay clear of the bad guys! After all, even though most of Magnolia Bluff’s residents are good people, there are a number of bad elements too.

This is definitely a cat and mouse mystery. There’s a very dangerous villain in the shadows just waiting to bounce on our amateur investigators. And this bad guy has no qualms about murdering whoever gets in his way. But whatever the peril, Caroline, Magnolia Nadine, LouEllen Mueller, and Daphne Leigh aren’t quitters. They’re going to do whatever necessary to find their friend. The tension kept me turning pages and realizing that this cozy mystery has an edge. In the midst of all the anxious moments, adorable poodle pups add a delightful component to the story.

This is a fun read with lots of twists and turns that will challenge a reader’s sleuthing skills while providing a nice touch of Texas hospitality. Highly recommended!

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