Death on a Deadline by Joyce St. Anthony is the second A Homefront News Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. I thought Death on a Deadline was well-written with steady pacing. I like Irene Ingram who is a smart, friendly, and spunky woman. She is a realistic, developed character. I like Irene's interactions with her best friend, Peggy and her almost father-in-law Police Chief Walter Turner. The whodunit was intriguing and fun to solve. There are plenty of people who wished Freddie dead. Irene asks questions and gathers clues. I like that Irene works with Chief Turner. They share information and bounce ideas off each other. There was a complete wrap up at the end, so we are not left with lingering questions. There is humor scattered throughout the story. Ava's sister, Angel is a piece of work. Irene's cousin, Donnie also provides amusement. The author captured the time period with the historical references including the war bond drive and rationing. Before each chapter is a newspaper headline from the Progress Herald that includes the latest war news. I enjoyed the reference to Mrs. Miniver (good movie). The ending was perfect. Death on a Deadline is a captivating cozy with a war bond rally, rampant rumors, a slain star, sugar rationing, an over-the-top thespian, a cheerful cousin, and a curious reporter.

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