Trio in Death-Sharp Minor

"...a good old fashion whodunit, with depth of character, and light humor..."

Some fictional universes are just places you want to be, and I have been so moved by the world CW Hawes has created for private detective Justinia Wright and her brother Harry. Hawes shown a remarkably light and airy touch in Trio in Death-Sharp Minor. Tina and Harry’s world comes complete with music, art, excellent food and drink. I would drop by their house any time, if only for a glass of Madeira. The three mysteries are deftly written and include an adorable and sexy love affair between Harry and Bea, one of the bereaved from the first story. If you want to check out a good cozy mystery, without the annoyingly twee failings of the genre, you could do much worse than this series.

If you like murder mysteries involving a quirky protagonist, Hawes has just the character for you in Justinia Wright. She isn't your average PI. She's ex-CIA and a world-class artist - pianist and painter - with idiosyncrasies that come through loud and clear in this character-driven drama. Helping her is brother Harry, the narrator of the series with a voice that draws you into the story. With a well-drawn gallery of secondary characters, the novel progresses through three distinct mysteries for Tina to solve while others try to keep up by contributing their own theories. A must for readers of cozy mysteries.

If you like your private eyes on the quirky side and your Watsons to be more than mere storytellers, you'll enjoy Trio in Death-Sharp Minor.

Some books I have problems getting into. This wasn't one of them. In this series, the author has crafted a sophisticated, cigar-smoking female PI and her sidekick brother. The duo never disappoints. Their characters are flushed out, unique and likeable. The relationships the two develop are heart-warming. The story well-crafted. Hawes can take the mundane and make it interesting. I found myself fascinated with what was on the menu at each meal. The plot moves along nicely and the story flows. I very much enjoyed the read and highly recommend it.