From being a huge fan of Agatha Christie mysteries, I’ve learned that little old ladies have a nose for crime and wrongdoings in their neighborhood. Small towns and villages are far from free of corruption, and an innocent-looking little old lady is far better at sniffing out the culprits than the police.
People just don’t vanish into thin air unless either they or the one kidnapping them has carefully planned it out. When Mrs. B.’s new friend, Alice, appears to have dropped off the face of the earth and there is no trace left of her in their town except for her handbag, which is in the trunk of the blue Mustang that Anne is driving, both Mrs. B. and Anne are concerned. What woman would willingly leave without her handbag, especially one that had her house key inside?
Alice’s daughters are no help; they don’t even get along with their mom, much less keep up with what she is doing. Rumors of a scandal surrounding her father and her birth are floating around. And then an attempted burglary is stopped at Alice’s empty house by her neighbor. Has someone kidnapped or done away with Alice? Was one of her daughters involved?
If you love mysteries but don’t want to read one that will give you nightmares or scare your socks off, then this cozy mystery by Anita Kulina is just what you’re looking for. The mystery is sound, suspects abound, it is possible a crime has been committed, and Mrs. B. is involved up to her eyeballs.
Amazon Link: Reason for Concern
Recommended Articles:
A Question of Devotion – a Review
Mrs. B and Her Polish Immigrant Heritage – Guest Post by Anita Kulina
My Favorite Cozy Mystery Authors – Guest Post by Anita Kulina
New Words Learned:
cadre – a group of people having some unifying relationship
city chicken – a Polish American entrée consisting of cubes of meat, which have been placed on a wooden skewer (approximately 4–5 inches long), then fried and/or baked. Depending on the recipe, they may be breaded. Despite the name of the dish, city chicken almost never contains chicken.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_chicken
jagoff – a stupid, irritating, or contemptible person.
novena – a Roman Catholic period of prayer lasting nine consecutive days
redd up – tidied
Wikimedia Commons
Sen-Sen – a type of breath freshener originally marketed as a “breath perfume” in the late 19th century by the T. B. Dunn Company and then produced by F&F Foods until they discontinued the product in July 2013. Sen-Sens were available in small packets or cardboard boxes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sen-Sen
Favorite Sentences:
That’s something you learn in kindergarten. Stay with the person the teacher paired you with. Never let your partner out of your sight.
She’d learned to keep her worries at bay and they had to wait until now, until nighttime, if they were going to creep up on her.
Vinyl always had that sticky, shiny feel. This was like sinking into a chair made of tapioca pudding.
About the Author:
Like most people who love to write, Anita Kulina has been telling stories since she was old enough to hold a pen. Her first publication was in the letters-to-the-editor column of Adventure Comics #341. Nowadays, much of her work centers on the rich and colorful lives of Pittsburgh’s working poor. Since Anita spent much of her life in those ranks, it’s a subject dear to her heart.
Her book Millhunks and Renegades won her the Achievement in Literature award from the community of Hazelwood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is currently at work on the next two Mrs. B books.
Website: http://www.brandtstreetpress.com/books/mrsb1.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anita.k.smith
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-kulina-smith-4094812?trk=hp-identity-na
I’m so glad you enjoyed ‘Reason for Concern’!