GRAVE WORDS

3 stars out of 5

I missed the first book in this series, but when I learned of this one, the concept was interesting just because the main character - a woman named, believe it or not, Winter Snow - is by profession a writer of obituaries. And as a former journalist a bit familiar with that process, I simply couldn't pass it by. My verdict? An interesting plot and a book I'd unhesitatingly call a good beach read, but way too many continuity slips and grammatical errors plus a heroine who simply refuses to listen to reason took this one down a notch or two in my eyes.

The whole thing begins as Winter, resident of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and owner of a slobbering Great Pyrenees rather appropriately named Diva, learns that somehow one of her client's paid-for obits ended up published with her name on top - but of course she's very much alive. As she tries to have the name corrected before the local newspaper is published - more so people won't think she's dead than to make sure the deceased person gets proper notice, it seemed to me - a popular local businesses catches fire and the body of a reportedly homeless man was found inside. To make matters worse, her newspaper reporter friend  Kevin ("Scoop") Blake has become the prime suspect since he reportedly was the last to see the guy alive.

As she's exhausting attempts to learn the deceased man's last name, she becomes frustrated and irritated that her detective boyfriend Kip Michaels refuses to share details from the police investigation with her - never mind that he could lose his job if he did. And he's frustrated and irritated that she continues her unauthorized sleuthing in the case, even involving her uncle Richard - the man who is like a father to her - and his good friend Horace, who lives nearby. Also in the mix is her friend Carla, a gum-chewing funeral home employee who seems to have the inside scoop on much of the town's goings-on.

As the story progresses, other arsons take place, as does the murder of a man known to be the homeless guy's friend. The latter death gives Winter a bit of an information boost, in that she's been hired to write the guy's obit and (this time legitimately) needs to get details on his life. As for more details, I won't tell, except to note that they include at least one uplifting experience and fodder for what I expect to be the next book in the series. Overall, it's an enjoyable book, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Grave Words by Gerri Lewis (Crooked Lane Books, June 2025); 330 pp.