Smart But Dead by Nancy G. West

by Diana Hockley

Details on how to win a copy of this book at the end of the review.

Aggie Mundeen is almost 40 and determined not to grow old. She’s Nancy G. West’s main character, a bright, funny woman whose curiosity knows no bounds. The columnist for Stay Young with Aggie has to remain young herself in order to be taken seriously, so it’s important for her to investigate all avenues for a successful outcome. The Human Genome Project, a fifteen-year study to determine the location and function of every human gene, would appear to have found genetic links to aging. When Dr. Carmody (the professor running the Science of Aging course) drops dead in front of the class, Aggie immediately thinks he has been murdered. In fact, if he hadn’t, she would be extremely disappointed, because Aggie is a sleuth!

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Aggie’s friend Meredith, who is accompanying her on the course, is sceptical; but Aggie plods on, questioning everyone she thinks might have a clue as to who might have murdered Carmody. She’s hit over the head but hides it from Sam (the detective and close friend she wishes might become closer, but from whom she’s hiding a devastating secret), which is par for the course for Our Girl. Asking questions that upset Dr Carmody in the lecture did her no favors, either: after he died, some people blamed Aggie.

Image source: Henery Press

The book hits its stride with Aggie’s investigations. While the scientific information slows the action a little, it’s necessary to the plot, and of course comes to a satisfying conclusion. No, I didn’t pick the murderer, so that made the book all the more enjoyable.

Five stars!

To enter to win a copy of Smart But Dead, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “Smart,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen November 21, 2015. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address.

Use this link to purchase this book and a portion goes to help support KRL & it supports an indie bookstore:

Smart, But Dead

Diana Hockley is an Australian mystery author who lives in a southeast Queensland country town. She is the devoted slave of five ratties & usually finds an excuse to mention them in her writing, including her recent novel, The Naked Room. Since retiring from running a traveling mouse circus for 10 years, she is now the mouse judge for the Queensland Rat & Mouse Club shows. To learn more, check out her website.