Skip to main content
Swap Used Books - Buy New Books at Great Prices!
PBS logo
 
 

Book Reviews of Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot

Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot
Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot
Author: Sarah Osborne
ISBN-13: 9781516108107
ISBN-10: 1516108108
Publication Date: 5/29/2018
Pages: 244
Rating:
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 2

3.8 stars, based on 2 ratings
Publisher: Lyrical Underground
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

2 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

booksinvt avatar reviewed Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot on + 467 more book reviews
Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot is the debut of the A Ditie Brown Mystery series set in Atlanta and featuring pediatrician Mabel Aphrodite "Ditie" Brown. Not one to stay in any one place for too long, Ditie is settling into her position at the Children's Refugee Clinic and is trying hard to get along with her brother Tommy who is constantly badgering her to sell the family dairy farm in Iowa.

When Tommy's ex high school girlfriend Eleanor "Ellie" Winston appears on her sidewalk and needs a favor, Ditie knows that since Ellie only surfaces when she needs help getting out of a jam, she should really say no. But, Ellie only wants her to watch her two small children, Lucie and Jason, for the weekend so she agrees and asks best friend Lurleen du Trois to help out. Unfortunately, Ellie turns up dead and Ditie discovers that she's been named as the children's full time guardian.

Determined to find out who killed her friend and ripped apart the lives of the children, Ditie sets out with the help of Lurleen and Detective Mason Garrett to track down a killer. Her investigation turns up a shady, baby daddy, uncovers corporate espionage at Sandler's Soda, Ellie's place of employment, and also discovers that Tommy might be somehow be involved and hiding something.

I really enjoyed the book from start to finish although the subject matter is a little darker than the traditional cozy. The mystery was very well planned out and I didn't suspect whodunit until close to the end and the author's writing style in describing Ditie's relationship with the kids was very touching and thought provoking. For a minute it seemed as though the author was going to introduce the dreaded love triangle but fortunately squashed it in the bud. I will definitely be tuning into the next in series to see what adventures are in store for Ditie, her friends and new found family.
reviewed Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot on + 1528 more book reviews
Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot by Sarah Osborne is the first A Ditie Brown Mystery. Mabel âDitieâ Brown is a pediatrician who works and lives in Atlanta, Georgia. She is surprised when Ellie Winston, who she has not seen in two years, show up at her house. Ellie only shows up when she is in trouble and this time is no exception. She asks if Ditie can watch her two children for a few days while she handles a matter. Ditie picks up the kids from a rundown apartment that evening and Ellie is not in residence (she left them alone). After 12 a.m. Mabel gets a call from Detective Mason Garrett. Ellie was found murdered in midtown with a note that Ditie is take care of her kids if something happens to her. What had Ellie been up to this time? The killer believes the kids or Ditie have something they want, and they will do whatever it takes to get it. They only way to protect the children is to track down the guilty party. Ditie and the kids are in for a harrowing time in Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot.

Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot is not your traditional cozy mystery. The main character, Mabel âDitieâ Brown is a pediatrician who works at a refugee clinic. Some of her patient stories are shared in the book (sad situations). Then we have Ellie Winston who frequently leaves her two kids (under nine) alone at home and has questionable ways of raising money. Ellie is then murdered and Ditie is left with two children to raise. It is distressing that Lucie Winston (age 9) has been responsible for caring for her brother, Jason (age 5). The tales from the children are just heartbreaking. The mystery has some good components and there is action that helps move the story forward. I do wish it had been harder to solve. The responsible party can easily be singled out (if you have not solved this one by the time you are halfway through the book, you need to turn in your deerstalker cap). The small-town charm and some light-hearted humor (a little levity) is missing from Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot. The background on Ditie was lacking as well. The writing lacked an ease to it and the pace was slow (the book seemed long when it was only 244 pages). There is romance (of course) between Ditie and Detective Garrett. Detective Garrett should have focused more on his job instead of Ditie and fewer errors would have been made. There are cozy moments with cooking, eating, baking, and the kids. I felt that the author missed the mark with Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot. My rating is 3 out of 5 for Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot.