Book 29, 2023

Mrs. Morris and the Pot of Gold by Traci Wilton

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



Last night I completed Mrs Morris and the Pot of Gold by Traci Wilton. It's the 6th title in the "Salem B&B" mystery series, and yes, I'm still reading them. Apparently I'm a glutton for punishment.

In this installment, our insipid intrepid heroine has a full house of guests over St Patrick's day, and she takes them on a field trip for corned beef and cabbage at the community club for the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Everyone has a good time, including the youngster in the group who is in awe of the "leprechaun" perched atop a pile of gold. As Charlene is about to take her group back to the B&B, she must return to the club to retrieve someone's coat. On the way, Charlene is almost knocked over by someone in a hoodie fleeing down the outer stairs. Inside, someone has been murdered. Charlene was the only witness, but she doesn't have much to offer the police in terms of descriptions or clues. However, that doesn't stop Charlene from poking her nose into the investigation in an effort to find a murderer.

If possible, Charlene was even more obnoxious in this book than in the previous ones. She has no reason to investigate the murder. None. Did that stop her? Of course not, because she's "curious". In addition to running all over town questioning people, Charlene ramped up her obnoxiousness by informing a grieving woman that her son had dropped out of med school. Um, since when is it your place to tell her that, Charlene? It was awful news, and it was horrid of Charlene to impart it. It was none of her damned business! Then, she has one guest at the B&B who prefers to keep to himself, which doesn't sit well with Charlene. She becomes obsessed with finding out what he's doing in Salem, where he goes, whom he's meeting, etc. He is your guest, Charlene, not your ward! OMG. Poor Detective Sam is still carrying a torch for Charlene, although I can't imagine why, but she continues to keep him at arm's length so as not to hurt the fee-fees of Jack, her resident ghost. For the love of St Patrick, get your house cleansed, move Carol Ann Jack into the light, and live your life in the land of the living, Charlene. Adding injury to insult, Charlene was almost killed at the end. AGAIN. Lather, rinse, repeat. Is it wrong that I was sort of rooting for the killer to succeed?

Favorite lines:
♣ "Irish to the last freckle."
♣ "I only like coffee if it's cold and sweet."

Least favorite line:
♣ Friend? Was that what she and Sam were? It was all they could be so long as she lived with her sweet, clever Jack who never made her feel alone. Go put your head in the oven, Charlene. If you can't be with Jack, then join him. Good grief.

The stories are interesting. I enjoy the setting and the paranormal aspects (except that Jack is an ass), but Charlene scruffs my fur up the wrong way. She's a nosy busy body who has no reason to act like Miss Marple, and it annoys me. This might have earned four stars, but I'm knocking two off for the sheer annoyance factor of the main character. Two stars.