This is one of those great mysteries where you can enjoy the characters, try to solve a mystery, and have a few laughs along the way. Perfect book for an October weekend read.

Very charming mystery with enough depth to make me crave a sequel.

A start to a new series. Desiree, or Death Ray, has returned to the northern California town of her childhood after an embarrassing event at her last job. She now works at the family business, of a funeral parlor. When her dad's friend, and her second father, is accused of murder she steps in to help find the killer. Fun story, with lots of red herrings, which send her in different directions. With three possible love interests in the future, I foresee fun in future books as well. Between her old high school sweetheart, the newspaper reporter, and the local cop, may the games begin. Highly recommend this book and series. A fun cozy mystery.

One mistake was all it took, and Desiree Turner’s career as a journalist was toast. These days an on air mistake lives on forever. She heads back home to California and begins work at her great grandfather’s funeral home. The clients don’t tend to complain about much, but the same can’t be said for their relatives. After an ugly argument between mourners Rosemarie Brewer and Lola Hansen at a funeral, Desiree doesn’t believe things can get much worse. Then Rosemarie’s husband Alan is murdered and Lola’s hubby. Lyle is arrested for the foul deed. But Desiree discovers that plenty of people had reason to kill Allan, including his mistress and his own wife. Bell has quick, snappy dialogue, a snarky heroine and a delightfully creepy setting in her mystery