Love Mercy

Mourning the loss of her husband and estranged from her grandchildren, Love Mercy Johnson lives in a seaside California town, surrounded by supportive friends. Then her granddaughter, Rett, hitchhikes from Kentucky with a banjo stolen from her faithless boyfriend. Johanna Parker reads with sympathy and sensitivity, differentiating characters and switching points of view among Love, her friend Mel, and Rett. Parker is equally adept at regional accents and voices of all ages, male and female. Her tone adds to the overall impression of "nice folks" despite the appearance of a few unsavory characters. Plot threads are left hanging, hinting that there may be more of this engaging story. J.B.G. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Starred review from March 2, 2009
The mysteries of the human heart fill Fowler's first of a sweet new series about Love Mercy Johnson of Morro Bay, Calif. This delightful departure from her Benni Harper mysteries (Tumbling Blocks, etc.) features cameos of Benni and husband Gabe, but Love, photojournalist and co-owner of the Buttercream Cafe, takes center stage with former Las Vega cop Melina "Mel" Le Blanc and Love's 18-year-old granddaughter, Loretta Lynn "Rett" Johnson. Rett suddenly arrives in San Celina County with a banjo stolen from her two-timing ex-boyfriend, Dale Bailey. Thirteen months have passed since Love lost her husband, Cy, and 14 years since Tommy, Rett's father, died. As Christmas approaches, Love must deal with Dale's hot pursuit of said banjo, her father-in-law's struggle with Alzheimer's and Mel's brush with a menace from her Vegas past. Fowler delivers some wise lessons on life (e.g., "Looks fade... a good heart doesn't") in a heartfelt tale sure to please her fans.