Book Review: Mama Cracks A Mask of Innocence

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Mama Cracks A Mask of Innocence     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Nora DeLoach
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Cozy
Series: Mama # 8
Bantam, Jul 2001, $5.99, 208 pp.

Though the drive is more than three hours from Atlanta to Otis, South Carolina, when Mama tells her daughter to come home, Simone always does as fast as she can. Mama needs help in sorting and distributing clothing collected from her town’s annual charity drive and she knows that Simone is perfect to insure a successful conclusion.

Unfortunately, the discovery of Brenda Long’s body in a shallow grave diverts Mama and Simone from the clothing drive. The victim’s mother and godmother ask Mama to uncover the identity of Brenda’s killer, as they know she and her daughter have solved several homicides. Mama and Simone begin their brand of investigation that will force them to look closely at what is really happening in Otis.

Up front, anyone who reads this series adores Mama. She finds a plethora of suspects wanting Brenda dead in her latest amateur sleuthing caper. Half way through the plot, readers will know who killed the victim, but will only have half the story as a shocker awaits the audience due to stunning plotting on the part of Nora DeLoach. This novel is a convincing and entertaining tale that augments the growing legend of Mama.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner