mystery, cackleberry club

This is the first novel in a new series by this prolific writer. It is set in a little river town called Kindred, and the town feels like it might be in Iowa or Illinois.

A group of women without husbands (either widowed, with husbands in nursing homes, getting divorced, whatever) have gotten together to form a business - with a restaurant, a bookstore, and a yarn store - to make their livings.

One day their lawyer is murdered out back behind thier business, and this starts an ugly chain of events that will include more murder, uncovering of possible sordid scandals close to home, and a creepy messianic cult.

The story is a little rough, and you feel like you know one of the women much mroe than the others by the time it is over, but I would be willing to try another with this cast of characters and setting.

For those who like this author's Tea Shop books, be aware that this one is grittier, and the women cuss.