Publisher's Weekly Review
At the start of Delaney's pleasing fourth mystery featuring retired Santa Louisa, Calif., school teacher Mary McGill (after 2017's Blood Red, White and Blue), Mary, chairperson of the town's annual Halloween event, is busy sorting out preparations for the children's play area when she sees her nephew-in-law, police chief Dan Dunham, heading into the bank followed by a person dressed as a clown. She doesn't have long to ponder this strange sight before hearing gunshots come from inside the bank. The clown races out and makes his getaway after wounding Dan and killing a woman. With Dan out of commission, Det. Sean Ryan, from San Louis Obispo's homicide department, steps in to handle the murder case. Mary soon decides that Sean's an arrogant bully who knows nothing about Santa Louisa's social dynamics. She rounds up her friends and her faithful, if cowardly, cocker spaniel, Millie, and sets off to investigate. Readers should be prepared for a lot of talk about dog care. This cozy is simple, relaxing fun for anyone, particularly those who prefer the company of dogs to that of people. Agent: Dawn Dowdle, Blue Ridge Literary. (Nov.)
Kirkus Review
A Halloween bank robbery by a killer in a clown suit strikes fear into the denizens of a California town.Mary McGill and her cocker spaniel, Millie, have earned a reputation as crime solvers (Blood Red, White and Blue, 2017, etc.). Despite her experience, Mary is stricken when the sound of what she thinks are firecrackers coming from the bank turns out to be gunfire. She arrives just in time to see a woman lying in a pool of blood, her beloved nephew-in-law, Police Chief Dan Dunham, wounded, and the clown responsible racing off and vanishing. With Dan laid up with a badly wounded shoulder, Mary must use her skills to find the killer of talented dressmaker Victoria Witherspoon, whom the clown shot twice for unknown reasons. Mary, a retired schoolteacher busy with many town activities, has an extensive knowledge of the town and its residents that she hopes will help her discover a motive. Unfortunately, a detective sent from out of town to work the case doesn't care for any help from Mary and her friends. When Mary goes to Victoria's shop to check on the wedding gown she made for a friend of Mary's from the dog world, she discovers material and a pattern for a clown costume. The bank teller thinks Victoria might have been killed because she made the costume and recognized the robber. Victoria's log book reveals that she made four clown costumes but used only initials to indicate their purchasers. Despite the obstacles she faces, Mary's happy to get help from Dan's team, including newcomer Janelle Tucker. Eventually Mary learns enough to put her in danger before the killer is finally cornered.Not much of a mystery but a charming read, especially for dog lovers. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Mary McGill comes face-to-face with the gun-wielding clown who just robbed a local bank, killed Victoria Witherspoon, and wounded the police chief Dan Dunham, Mary's nephew-in-law. Believing that seamstress Victoria was killed because she recognized the clown costume, Mary goes to Victoria's shop and finds a book listing Victoria's clients (abbreviations only) and their projects. With Dan's blessing, and knowing many of the small town's residents from her stint as a home-economics teacher, Mary identifies four suspects, sharing her information with Dan. Abrasive detective Sean Ryan, brought in while Dan convalesces, dismisses Mary's insights, intent on a rush to judgment, but Mary perseveres, endangering her own life in the process. Unfortunately, the villain is readily apparent, and the police take far too long to check Victoria's computer, but the cast is engaging, and the small-town Halloween backdrop is appealing.--Sue O'Brien Copyright 2019 Booklist
