REVIEW: Cremains of the Day

Cremains of the Day
Author: Misty Simon

Tallulah (or Tallie) Graver has just gotten divorced. Although her finances are pretty bad following the break-up, she is glad to be rid of her wealthy, pompous, jerk of a husband. She's embarrassed about her behavior while she was married to him, so she's trying to rebuild friendships and put her life back together. Putting her pride aside, she starts cleaning houses for some of the wealthy residents of her hometown, and also helps out at her family's funeral home. Just as the hometown gossip about her is dying down and her life seems to be improving, there is a bit of a fracas. Her ex-husband is found in an alley way after being tazed in the unmentionables. The town police chief immediately suspects her because she is Waldo's ex-wife. Tallie soon discovers another member of her former social circle murdered. Suddenly the entire situation is more dangerous than just her jerk ex being shocked in the jumblies. Tallie decides to do some sleuthing to prove that she had nothing to do with the attack, the murder, or any criminal activity. Can she discover the truth before someone else is dead on a slab at Gravers Funeral Home?

This cozy mystery is a bit PG-13. There are a lot of jokes about the ex-husband's privates. It never gets crude or inappropriate, but it is a bit of adult humor. Also there are a few minor curse words...readers who are offended by any cursing (even if it's minor) might want to pass this one by. I wasn't offended. Most of what she said is probably pretty close to the quips I would make if I found out my ex had been tazed in the balls.....once I was able to stop laughing.

The mystery moved along at a good pace, and the story line was interesting. I would have liked a bit more background on the town/location and a bit more action at the family funeral business....but it wasn't really necessary to the plot. For the most part I liked the characters. I think the wealthy snobs Tallie was forced to clean house for were a bit overdone at times....almost stereotype upper class twits. The ex husband was a royal ass....but the character needed to be a total jerk as part of the plot. I did feel like hopping into the story a few times just to punch him. What a jerk! :) There were plenty of suspects and some unexpected twists and turns before the end. All in all, a nice start to a new cozy series.

The next book in the series, Grounds for Remorse, will be coming out soon.

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**