It was a simple case of judging a book by its cover. When I should have been doing any number of other things, I went, instead, for a short trip to Elderberry, Georgia. I didn’t really go to Georgia; I just spent a few days reading about Miss Dimple and her friends as they tried to find a murderer in their small southern town in the winter of 1943.
The book, you see, was sitting on the “new books” shelf just as I entered the library. It’s colorfully stylized cover did its job and caught my eye as I walked past the display to return the arm load of books I was carrying. I’m easily distracted and went back to Miss Dimple, curious. It was a 7 day loan. I don’t usually check out books on such short loan because, as I said, I am easily distracted and never get them read in one week.
I didn’t get ” Dimple Suspects” read in one week, either. It languished for six days (did I ever tell you I work better under pressure?) before my eyes rested upon its pages. What started as a search for one of Miss Dimple’s students, Peggy, became a murder mystery involving many of Elderberry’s female residents.
The child is found on a cold, cold night by Miss Dimple near the secluded home of an elderly artist, Mae Martha. Mae Martha and her nurse/companion, Suzy,give Miss Dimple and little Peggy shelter. Suzy nurses Peggy until a doctor can come. In the days that follow, Mae Martha is found murdered in her home, Suzy has disappeared, and Miss Dimple, Charlie, Virginia, Annie and other town members put their lives in danger as they try to find out who the murderer is.
The setting is in a small town in rural Georgia during WWII. Most of the men have gone to fight in the war, leaving the women to cope with rationing, artificial tires on the few cars in town, making do, blackouts, and all those things that the home front contended with during the war. It is also about suspicions, prejudices against the Japanese during WWII, greed – and kindness.
“Miss Dimple Suspects” is a cozy read with a host of comfortable characters, and a few uncomfortable ones, set in a time and place now long past. It is not filled with blood and gore, in spite of several murders and murder attempts. It is a quiet mystery that made me feel, as I closed its pages, that I had properly judged this book by its cover.
Oh, I would have been attracted by the cover too. It looks so “Nancy Drewish”. It looks delightful.
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I hadn’t thought it, Janet, but, now that you mention it, Miss Dimple IS Nacy Drewish. I wish I could send it, via an owl, to help you feel better today.
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I doubt that the book will cross the pond but it looks and sounds like just the sort of thing I’d choose to while away a cold and wet afternoon.
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It is a perfect whiling away sort of read, Friko.
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I agree. It is wonderful when you can judge a book by its cover. Thanks for the review. This cosy mystery sounds right up my (dark) alley. I see that it is the third in a series. As is my way, I will have to start with the first: Miss Dimple Disappears.
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I was well into it when I realized it was book #3, Belle. Not the best way to do a series. Not easily daunted, I returned my overdue Miss Dimple yesterday, and came home with Miss Dimple Disappears. They are very light mysteries, but, fun just the same.
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I can easily see how the cover drew you in. I’m glad you quickly clarified “how” you went to Georgia. You should have been in my mind as I abruptly stopped reading and tried to figure out how you got from the Cutoff for a quick trip to Georgia. I have a cold…it may be the meds! LOL! I love mysteries, and my favorites are of this variety. Soft, not edged with terror, and with a good storyline they don’t need to be violent! Don’t you think almost all readers love those “new book” shelves in the library? I have been known to bring books home I absolutely knew I wouldn’t have time to read, but I can’t resist. I will make a note of Miss Dimple. I know I would enjoy! 🙂
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Glad you figured that out, Debra, with your head all stuffed up and medicated. I hope you feel better soon. Miss Dimple Suspects is just that sort of “easy” mystery to solve when under the weather or needing a light read. Oh, I do think most readers love the new book shelves, and I do the same thing, lugging out art books and novels and cookbooks that I just “have to have”, knowing I’ll be lugging them back in seven days unread. As mentioned above in Belle’s comment, this is a series. You might want to start out with “Miss Dimple Disappears” first, though “Miss Dimple Suspects” held up on its own fine for me.
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Sounds like the perfect book for a rainy weekend…….and I am so far behind in my reading. I love the cover artwork. Perfect for the period.
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It is, Andra, and I am far behind as well. Sometimes we just need these light sort of reads.
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That looks and sounds like my idea of a cosy read, Penny, rather like my favourite Daisy Dalrymple mysteries set in the 1920s. I’d better check our library catalogue just in case Miss Dimple has made her way across the Atlantic. 🙂
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It is a cozy read and reminded me a bit of Daisy Dalrymple, Perpetua. Miss Dimple Disappears is the first in the series, which I now have and am enjoying. These light mysteries are so satisfying, aren’t they, no matter which side of the Atlantic we are on? Now, you remind me that I should read another of Daisy’s adventures. Sigh. As the saying goes, so many books, so little time.
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I used to be a bookseller and always judged a book by its cover – although sometimes the cover wasn’t as immediately appealing as this one is. I’m so glad it lived up to the promise. I was interested as well that you need a bit of pressure to get things done – me too. I am beginning to feel it now as my home still need a lot of work to get it packed up and moved on! Have a wave from Alcala la Real! Axxx
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Yes, Annie, I seem to be a life-long member of the Procrastinators Club. We moved a few years ago. I have an idea what you are up against at the moment. Good luck.
This was just what I needed right now, Annie, and it was just sitting there on the shelf, waiting for me. I’m sure you have some interesting stories about bookselling.
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I may have to check this one out! Would you say this book is appropriate for a preteen as well?
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Depending on the preteen, I think it would be an appropriate book, Becky. There are several murders, but, we just read about blood on the back of head, and there is a fire, which could be scary. It isn’t very graphic, and, if your young reader has read Harry Potter, this is not as strong as those books are. Small town values, working together, what it was like living in a small town during WWII, are all part of the story. I would have encouraged my own daughters to read it as preteens.
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Oooh! A series I hadn’t come across, Penny, thank you!
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You’re welcome.
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Sounds like a nice cosy read Penny – with thrills.
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It is, Juliet; gentle thrills.
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. . . and I see that your new book is out! Yea!
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Dear Penny, I read only a few authors who write “cozies,” but I will now go to the library web site and see if this book is available. My motto is, “You can’t go wrong if Penny suggests a read!!!!” Peace.
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This is very much a cozy read, Dee. Nothing complicated, not too much of a mystery, but, a nice little escape for an afternoon of pleasant reading. I hope you enjoy it – and I hope you are feeling better.
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Definitely long past, I was only three years old in 1943….eeeeek how did my childhood become long-past! That being said, this cozy series sounds like a lot of fun….I’ve given up on modern cozies, because I can’t stand the fact that the protagonists always have these crazy ridiculous jobs and yet seem to still make a living when they’re not solving murders. (A herb shop in Texas? A mystery book store on some island in South Carolina? ….give me a break!) Anyway… this historical one sounds like a lot of fun…I will check both my libraries. (I’m reading Kindle books from our Oregon Library and real hardcover ones from here in Florida!)
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This is the simplest of cozy mysteries, Sallie, not too hard to figure out “who-done-it”, but, pleasant and simple with enough good characters that you want to spend more time with them. How fun! A book via Kindle from Oregon and another from Florida. As sweet and simple 1943 seems at times in such simple books as Miss Dimple Suspects, we are lucky, aren’t we, for all the modern advantages we have.
Still cold up here, but, hopeful . . .
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Another great book review Penny. The book cover looks vintage, by the cover I never would have guessed it was a new book!
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Isn’t it a great cover? It is a very simple, easy read and mystery, but, fun, none-the-less.
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