Student Body

January 19, 2015
In Cooper’s lightweight 12th E.J. Pugh mystery (after 2013’s Gone in a Flash), the romance writer and unlicensed PI books a surprise weekend at a quaint B&B, in a small town in the Texas hill country, to celebrate the 20th wedding anniversary of her and her husband, Willis. On arrival, the B&B’s distraught owner confides in the couple that her father, who died during the D-day invasion, has returned from the dead. E.J. and Willis cheerily deal with the supposedly haunted house and a couple of murders, outguessing the local bumpkin police chief, who, sans Internet connection, seems trapped in the mid-20th century. Series fans may find comfort in the pleasant characterizations, as well as the descriptions of the B&B’s antiques and its sumptuous meals threatening E.J.’s recent weight loss. But newcomers may want to start by reading previous, more substantial entries. Agent: Vicky Bijur, Vicky Bijur Literary Agency.

February 15, 2015
Texan E. J. Pugh has a nose for murder cases. Her husband, Willis, has tried to keep E. J. from getting involved in crime solving, but, so far, to no avail. Still, their marriage has survived for 20 years, and, to celebrate their anniversary, E. J. plans a surprise trip to a B and B in a Texas hill town. Arriving at the inn, they are delighted by the beautiful Victorian house and its slightly ditzy proprietress, Miss Hutchins. When Miss Hutchins claims the house is haunted by her long-dead father, E. J. and Willis are at first skeptical, then concerned (after they hear odd noises late at night). When a couple arrives, claiming to be psychics who can exorcise the ghost, E. J. and Willis wonder what they've gotten themselves into. Then one of the psychics is murdered, and it seems crime has found E. J. once again. Moving between the 1940s and the current day, the story is one of strange coincidences, violence, and greed, and it is as sad as it is shocking. Fortunately, there's also a hearty dose of down-home humor and a feisty, likable heroine. Engaging and entertaining.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2017
Romance writer E. J. Pugh can spot a meaty murder at 50 paces and solve it before the cops have set up the incident room. But her latest case hits way too close to home when her college-student son, Graham, becomes the prime suspect in the brutal stabbing of his roommate, Bishop Alexander. Bizarrely, Graham was in the room when Bishop was murdered and slept through the whole thing. While E. J. is sure her son is no killer, the cops believe he is. After all, who could possibly sleep through a violent killing? Enlisting the aid of her friend, policewoman Elena Luna, E. J. resolves to find the murderer. This proves to be a daunting task, since Bishopaccording to almost everyone who knew himwas an obnoxious, conceited, nasty young man, albeit a rich and handsome one. But E. J. is determined, and when she's determined, nothing stands in her way. Humorous, fresh, and full of eccentric characters, Cooper's latest entry in this popular series is another winner.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)