Review of "Dearly Departed", by Tristi Pinkston

Back cover blurb for Dearly Departed, by Tristi Pinkston:

Ida Mae Babbitt has done her community service and is a reformed woman - no more law-breaking for her. But when Arlette's granddaughter Eden discovers a mystery in a fancy nursing home, Ida Mae - with the perfect excuse of a broken wrist and a broken ankle - checks herself into the place. After all, it is for the greater good. Soon she's buzzing around in her motorized wheelchair, questioning the residents and swiping files from the office. She's bound and determined to get to the bottom of this case. But can she solve the mystery before she becomes the next victim?

Dearly Departed by Tristi Pinkston is a delightfully breezy mystery, definitely on the “cozy” side, filled with highly likable characters and a wonderful sense of humor. Although the characters are LDS, this aspect is done with a very light touch, keeping the story highly accessible to non-LDS readers as well. Ida Mae Babbitt is an adorable handful, though I admit, my favorite parts were the scenes between obituary writer Eden and her crime reporter cubicle neighbor, Kevin. But that’s probably the romantic in me. (Not that Ida Mae doesn’t get a bit of romance of her own in the end. Oops! Was that a spoiler? I hope not!) I haven’t read Tristi’s first Ida Mae Babbitt mystery, Secret Sisters, but I gather from the context of Dearly Departed that there was a bit of a romance going on in that volume between Eden and Ida Mae’s grandson, Ren. If so, then I’m putting myself down for Team Kevin. (Sorry, Ren, but I don’t know you, and I do know Kevin, and I just liked the heck out of him!) I suppose to be fair, though, I should give Ren a chance and read Secret Sisters. Putting it down on my TBR list!

My favorite line from the book? “Please don’t throw me in the briar patch!” What does it mean? Ah, you’ll have to read the book to solve that mystery, as well!

Walnut Springs Press is giving away THREE copies of Dearly Departed and a grand prize scrap booking pack as part of Tristi's blog tour. To enter, do the following:

1. Leave a comment on this review letting us know why you're excited to read Dearly Departed, then visit the other blog tour reviews and leave comments there for additional entries. Remember to include your email address. (Click here for a list of all the blog tour stops.)
2. For an additional entry become a follower of Walnut Springs Press, Tristi's blog, or any of the fabulous reviews blog. Leave a comment letting us know who's blog you now follow.
3. If you tweet about the blog tour, or post about it on your blog or Facebook, leave the link in the comments section and you'll receive an additional entry for each post.

Deadline for entries is midnight MST March 6. Good luck!

For the FTC: I received this book free from the publisher. This has in no way influenced my review.