Murder Under the Covered Bridge: A Bucket List Mystery By Elizabeth Perona

by Cynthia Chow

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

The ladies of the Summer Ridge Bridge Club are at it again. After creating their list of sixty items to be knocked off their Bucket Lists before they kicked it themselves, they subsequently managed to become celebrities while checking off a number of their wishes; not in the least of these which was to solve a murder. Francine McNamara rather reluctantly found herself promoting health on Dr. Oz, Mary Ruth competed on the Food Network’s Chopped, while Joy McQueen landed the job as an ABC senior living correspondent and reporter for Good Morning America. Although they were now fulfilling Charlotte Reinholdt’s #39 item of being a sexy calendar girl, Francine is somehow not surprised to find that it is she who is disheveled for a racy photo shoot on Roseville Bridge. Their intention of reenacting a scene of Francine’s great-grandmother and her star-crossed lover is interrupted before it can get really good, when gunshots sound out and Francine’s cousin William makes his appearance by falling into the creek.

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In town for Indiana’s Parke County Covered Bridge festival, the ladies and Francine’s genial husband Jonathan are using the event to fulfill not just Charlotte’s List, but also to support Mary Ruth and her Fabulous Dessert Shop food booth. Their efforts to meet the ever-growing appetites of festival customers is hampered by Francine’s concern over William, who remains in a coma while his wife Dolly makes not-so-subtle remarks on who is to blame. Even though she has met her #1 bucket list item of solving a murder, Charlotte barely hesitates to wedge their way into another investigation. Considering that the lead Detective Stockton is casting very interested glances at Joy that in no way indicate that she is a suspect, they might also ensure her #5 bucket list wish to Find Romance.

Image source: Midnight Ink

As Francine looks into the life of her nursing home-owning cousin, the Bridge Club also Engages in a Séance (Alice’s #40 something), encounter rumors of buried treasure, and definitely fulfill Francine’s #42 to Take More Chances. Charlotte may be the one manipulating them into the investigation for her own needs, but it is Francine who finds more than she could ever have expected with the discovery of her grandmother’s diaries and their unimaginable implications.

This second of the Bucket List Mystery series, written by the father-daughter team of Tony Perona and Liz Dombrosky, continues to highlight the hilarious relationships between these long-time friends. Their jokes, snarks, and criticisms can stem only from the considerable history and affection they share together. A concluding plot twist is guaranteed to surprise readers, and the possible repercussions could definitely affect the future of all involved. The senior sleuths never fail to entertain with their lively antics, but it is the thoughtful Francine and her love for her friends that is at the heart of the novels.

To enter to win an e-book of Murder Under the Covered Bridge, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “bridge,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen August 6, 2016. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please included your mailing address.

You can use this link to purchase the book:

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).