A couple years back I had picked up Gutcheon's "Five Fortunes" at a garage sale. It was not a mystery but rather a story of several women who go to a spa for several days and become friends. The book follows their lives for a bit after they leave the spa. I enjoyed the book and the author's writing so added a few of her books to my list. I got this one and the follow up ("The Affliction," which I'm now reading) from the library. I was surprised to find this book and the follow up are mysteries. As other Amazon reviewers have mentioned, "Breakfast" is reminiscent of a "Murder She Wrote" episode. I couldn't keep track of all the characters initially. I gave up on trying to go back and see who was who. Even though the victim was unlikeable, I figured out who set things rolling before it was revealed in the book.
I didn't particularly care for the Hope character because she seemed to be overbearing and somewhat insensitive to others, including her own son, Buster, who just happens to be the local sheriff. Buster's meekness toward his mother is rather unbelievable. If she wanted inside info on the investigation, he caved in and gave it to her. Then Hope and friend Maggie would go off and do their own snooping.
The Cherry character, a young gal who was initially arrested, is not a very sympathetic character yet Hope and Maggie instantly feel sorry for her and want to help her.
So, this is an OK read. We'll see how "The Affliction" pans out. So far, similar to this book--lots of characters to keep track of and Hope and Maggie back to snooping at places even before the cops get there (although Hope keeps latex gloves with her so she doesn't compromise a crime scene with fingerprints--never mind that she and Maggie could be leaving trace evidence like hair, fibers, dirt, etc.).
I didn't particularly care for the Hope character because she seemed to be overbearing and somewhat insensitive to others, including her own son, Buster, who just happens to be the local sheriff. Buster's meekness toward his mother is rather unbelievable. If she wanted inside info on the investigation, he caved in and gave it to her. Then Hope and friend Maggie would go off and do their own snooping.
The Cherry character, a young gal who was initially arrested, is not a very sympathetic character yet Hope and Maggie instantly feel sorry for her and want to help her.
So, this is an OK read. We'll see how "The Affliction" pans out. So far, similar to this book--lots of characters to keep track of and Hope and Maggie back to snooping at places even before the cops get there (although Hope keeps latex gloves with her so she doesn't compromise a crime scene with fingerprints--never mind that she and Maggie could be leaving trace evidence like hair, fibers, dirt, etc.).
