Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
Helpful Score: 1
Last Pen Standing is the debut of the Stationery Shop Mystery series featuring Delta Douglas and set in the small, former gold mining town of Tundish, Montana. Using a monetary gift from her grandmother Delta purchases half of Wanted, a stationery/crafting shop housed in the old Sheriff's office. Giving up her job in Cheyenne, Wyoming, relocates to Tundish and moves in with old college roommate and now business partner, Hazel.
On her first night in town Delta and Hazel host a crafting workshop at the swanky Lodge Hotel. The annual gold miner's party is also going on that evening in a separate section of the hotel and Rosalyn Taylor the hotel manager, is adamant that the crafters stay away from the exclusive guests. The workshop winds down and as Delta and Hazel make their way through the lobby they are approached by Hazel's brother Finn, who says there has been an accident in the bar and they need to get help. The ladies look in the dark room and discover the body of one of the hotel guests dead on the floor.
The local police immediately arrest Finn, who Delta learns has a troubled past, and then Hazel who they think is covering for her brother. Determined not to lose the money that she's just invested into her new career, Delta joins forces with members of the Paper Posse and retired detective Jonas Nord and his K-9 partner Spud to clear her friends name.
A somewhat disjointed plot involving locals and out of towners, blackmail and adultery. It was a little far fetched that a newcomer could question people and have them confide their secrets and while the ladies of the Paper Posse are mentioned quite a bit in the beginning they fade into the background and I would like to have gotten to know them a little better (honestly some of the ladies were a little more interesting than the main characters). I'll read the second in the series with the hope that the character development continues to grow and I'll get to spend more time with the lovable Spud.
On her first night in town Delta and Hazel host a crafting workshop at the swanky Lodge Hotel. The annual gold miner's party is also going on that evening in a separate section of the hotel and Rosalyn Taylor the hotel manager, is adamant that the crafters stay away from the exclusive guests. The workshop winds down and as Delta and Hazel make their way through the lobby they are approached by Hazel's brother Finn, who says there has been an accident in the bar and they need to get help. The ladies look in the dark room and discover the body of one of the hotel guests dead on the floor.
The local police immediately arrest Finn, who Delta learns has a troubled past, and then Hazel who they think is covering for her brother. Determined not to lose the money that she's just invested into her new career, Delta joins forces with members of the Paper Posse and retired detective Jonas Nord and his K-9 partner Spud to clear her friends name.
A somewhat disjointed plot involving locals and out of towners, blackmail and adultery. It was a little far fetched that a newcomer could question people and have them confide their secrets and while the ladies of the Paper Posse are mentioned quite a bit in the beginning they fade into the background and I would like to have gotten to know them a little better (honestly some of the ladies were a little more interesting than the main characters). I'll read the second in the series with the hope that the character development continues to grow and I'll get to spend more time with the lovable Spud.
