Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Signet; Original edition (October 5, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451231090
ISBN-13: 978-0451231093
Beth Kennedy, a single mom with 2 kids, owns her own children's bookstore and is perfectly happy with her orderly life in Wisconsin. When her best friend, Marina, talks her into becoming secretary of the local PTA, Beth is a little hesitant but Marina talks her into "getting out there" and being more adventurous. Who knew the local PTA would be a hotbed of dissent and conflict that would lead Beth to more adventure than she ever bargained for?
So when Marina called Beth after the first meeting to tell her that Agnes Mephisto, the school principal, has been found murdered, Beth is not surprised. With a last name of Mephisto, Agnes is seen by many as the devil incarnate of the PTA. It seems Agnes has ruffled more than just a few feathers in the Tarver Elementary School system but her latest dictate has managed to add to the impressive list of enemies who have motives galore. Thanks to the gossipy blog titled WisconSins, everyone in town knew there were many suspects and rumors are running rife. Beth becomes a little too involved and thinks she needs to find out who the murderer really is so she starts digging into Agnes's life not without repercussions, of course!
Murder at the PTA is Laura Alden's first in the series and is an auspicious start for this promising writer. I really liked the way Alden developed the characters and how well they played off of each other; their personalities complemented each other. The mystery was well plotted and I was surprised at the ending. Always a good thing! I'll be most interested to read the next book in the series. 4****
So when Marina called Beth after the first meeting to tell her that Agnes Mephisto, the school principal, has been found murdered, Beth is not surprised. With a last name of Mephisto, Agnes is seen by many as the devil incarnate of the PTA. It seems Agnes has ruffled more than just a few feathers in the Tarver Elementary School system but her latest dictate has managed to add to the impressive list of enemies who have motives galore. Thanks to the gossipy blog titled WisconSins, everyone in town knew there were many suspects and rumors are running rife. Beth becomes a little too involved and thinks she needs to find out who the murderer really is so she starts digging into Agnes's life not without repercussions, of course!
Murder at the PTA is Laura Alden's first in the series and is an auspicious start for this promising writer. I really liked the way Alden developed the characters and how well they played off of each other; their personalities complemented each other. The mystery was well plotted and I was surprised at the ending. Always a good thing! I'll be most interested to read the next book in the series. 4****
To celebrate the release of Murder at the PTA last week, Laura is allowing me to host a giveaway for 2 autographed, paperback copies of her book. Just leave a comment saying why you would like to win. Open to US & Canada.
Bonus entries available :
Bonus entries available :
+2 for old followers - remind me how you follow and under what name
+3 for new followers thru GFC
+3 for posting about and linking to drawing or tweeting.
Please, please please, DO NOT leave 3 separate comments saying you tweeted or that you are a follower! :) Be sure to leave an e-mail contact.
Deadline to enter is October 22 at 5 PM. Good luck!
Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by the author, Laura Alden, in exchange for my honest opinion.
Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by the author, Laura Alden, in exchange for my honest opinion.
I would love to read this book.
ReplyDelete+2 Old GFC follower
+3 Tweeted
http://twitter.com/BookOwner/status/27132690724
seriousreader at live dot com
This book sounds great and I would like to win it because I have never read a book by this author.
ReplyDeletecenya2 at hotmail dot ocm
I am an old and I mean old follower. cenya2
ReplyDeletecenya2 at hotmail dot com
Sounds like a great read. Please include me.
ReplyDelete+2 old GFC follower
+3 tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/darcy1956/status/27135242560
dlodden at frontiernet dot net
Thanks for the giveaway. I just have to have this book. I am Vice President of my son's school's PTA and let me tell you, we have have everything but murder!!
ReplyDelete+2 old GFC follower.
lizzi0915 at aol dot com
I love a good series! Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeletefreda.mans[at]sympatico.ca
+2 old follower via GFC (fredamans)
+3 tweet; http://twitter.com/#!/fredalicious/status/27144684292
+2 old follower through Google Friends
ReplyDeletewolferock AT earthlink.net
I would like to read this book, it sounds really good.
ReplyDelete+2 I am a old gfc follower.
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
I remember well those PTA days back in the 60s/70s! This cozy sounds like great fun.
ReplyDelete+2 OLD GFC follower as Karen B.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com
New author for me. Sounds really good. Do not count me in for this giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI would love to win and read Murder at the PTA it looks great! Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteJHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
+2 I am an old GFC follower (holdenj).
ReplyDeleteJHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
New author for me - book looks great!
ReplyDelete+2 old follower on gfc as Martha Lawson
mlawson17 at hotmail dot com
Geesh woman...another series to add to my list!! Sometimes I can't wait for the weather to get colder so that I can cuddle up with a pile of cozy mysteries!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a book I would enjoy reading. I would love to win it.
ReplyDeleteiowagramma.ann@gmail.com
And yes, I am an old follower, LOL...
ReplyDeleteiowagramma.ann@gmail.com
Please, count me in. I cannot imagine 'murder at the PTA'. Sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteI am an old follower through Google Reader.
gcpeach17 at aol dot com
I want my own children's bookstore!
ReplyDeleteAs a former teacher and PTA member, this sounds like a fun read. Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
ReplyDelete+2 I am literally an OLD follower in more ways than one
kdhaney at gmail dot com
I would love to relax with this book.
ReplyDelete+3 I tweeted:
Carolee888 http://kayespenguinposts.blogspot.com/2010/10/review-giveaway-murder-at-pta-by-laura.html See above for mystery contest.
+ 2 Old GFC follower
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
This brings back memories of PTA when I was back in school - however, we had no murders involved!!
ReplyDelete+2 Old follower
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
The synopsis of this book is intriguing and one that I would like to read. Thank you so much for hosting this giveaway.
ReplyDeletesteven(dot)capell(at)gmail(dot)com
Sounds like a fun mystery. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletemtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
+2 for current follower