Book 48, 2024

Five Belles Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Last night I finished the book Five Belles Too Many by Debra H Goldstein. It's the fifth book in her "Sarah Blair" series of cozy mysteries, starring...Sarah Blair!

When Sarah's mother, Maybelle, lands a spot on a wedding-themed reality show, Sarah is reluctantly pressed into service as her mother's chaperone. Maybelle and her beau, George, entered on a lark, never anticipating they'd be chosen to compete for a dream wedding. The show's producers, however, liked the unexpected angle of having a senior couple compete with the four young couples. Sarah is in for a rude awakening as she discovers just how much reality TV likes to play up drama and infighting. As if that wasn't bad enough, the show's big wig is found murdered at Jane's Place, with Jane herself hovering over the body. Jane is Sarah's nemesis, but she can't believe Jane would kill anyone. Sarah dutifully summons Harlan, the lawyer she works for, to represent Jane. In the meantime, the show must go on. Sarah is now on high alert, wanting to ensure her mother's safety as well as the reputation of her sister's restaurant, which is hosting many of the dinners. As the competition heats up and someone else dies, the race is on to find a killer.

Sarah is likable enough, if a tad boring. The plot made sense as it went along, although one of the competition eliminations was never explained. It seemed as if everyone was just rushing it along to be done with it.

Favorite line: "The only person who ever ruins things for you is you."

I've been reading this series since its inception, but I'm not sure I'll read more of them. They're entertaining enough, but rather basic and bland. This particular book did feature lots of unexpected twists and surprises. I'm not a fan of reality TV at all, so the premise was not enjoyable for me. Three stars.