Geared for the Grave

December 1, 2014
Brown's new Mackinac Island series features Evie, who is hoping to earn a promotion by helping out in the bike business of her boss' father, Rudy. Islanders refer to her as Chicago and treat her as an outsider, but she is charmed by the shops and people. Wealthy resident Bunny dies after an argument with Rudy, and Evie vows to clear him. The town conspires to hide Bunny's body in the local market freezer so the tourist fudgies will not be scared off by a murder. Evie gamely paints bikes in themes and helps Rudy's friends break into houses looking for answers about the murder. She is not subtle with poison ivy and paint splotches, but she catches the attention of the charming police head in the style of Janet Evanovich's characters. Marijuana-laced fudge that inebriates local seniors; bike and horse incidents; and family arguments add a liberal dose of zaniness to a clever mystery. Evie and friends provide a unique look at the famous destination in this enjoyable escape.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)