Courtin’ Disaster: A Review

With the publication of Courtin’ Disaster by Cindy Davis, the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles numbers an even 2 dozen novels.

As I posted previously, the Chronicles are actually a collection of mini-series. Each author focuses the spotlight on their special protagonists, and brings in the other characters as needed to round out the story.

Courtin’ Disaster continues the ongoing adventures of Bliss Jager, who has now settled in Magnolia Bluff.

Her top priority, aside from refurbishing and landscaping her new home, is to move her friend, Merrick Doyle, who is a ghost, to her new home, getting him out of the General Store so he can be with “family”.

Of course nothing goes according to plan, does it? And when you add murder to the mix and vengeful ex-boyfriends, it all just gets that much more exciting. Well, exciting for the reader, that is.

You can read the book’s blurb over on the Amazon page. And while you’re there, pick up a copy.

What I especially like about the Bliss Jager mini-series within the world of Magnolia Bluff is the excellent storytelling by Cindy Davis. I think this is her best work. And what makes it so is the cast of characters she’s pulled together who tell us their collective and individual stories.

Bliss, Whitney, Hannah, Merrick, Chief Tommy Jager (no relation to Bliss), and let’s not forget Diablo, reveal to us bits of who they were and who they currently are.

Which makes them real people. People no different from those I meet in the neighborhood and gradually learn who they are, learn what makes them tick.

To let the characters tell their stories is the hallmark of a great writer. As I often say, we’re just the amanuensis recording what these people tell us about themselves. And in the Bliss Jager stories, Cindy Davis is a great writer.

Courtin’ Disaster contains humor, a lot of humor; it contains a well-crafted puzzle; entertaining sub-plots; just the right amount of description to make you feel like you are right there in Magnolia Bluff; and food, let’s not forget the food. There’s lots of it. And it is delish.

I thoroughly enjoyed Courtin’ Disaster and I think you will, too. Be sure to get your copy on Amazon. Before the price goes up.

Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!

CW Hawes is a playwright; award-winning poet; and a fictioneer, with two bestselling novels. He’s also an armchair philosopher, political theorist, social commentator, and traveler. He loves a good cup of tea and agrees that everything’s better with pizza.