The Ginseng Conspiracy
By Susan Bernhardt
Ebook 5.95
MuseItUp Publishing
January 2014
About the Book:
On her way to attend a Halloween Ball, Kay Driscoll, a newcomer to town,
witnesses the murder of a local professor. When the official coroner's report
rules the cause of death to be accidental and the community accepts the judgment,
Kay decides to uncover the truth for herself. Through her personal
investigations, Kay exposes a complex conspiracy, woven deep within the
thriving local ginseng industry, that involves some of the more prominent
figures and families of Sudbury Falls.
With her new friends, the free-spirited
herbalist Deirdre and the untamed modern woman Elizabeth, Kay discusses new
clues over tea and pastries at Sweet Marissa's Patisserie, their crime-fighting
headquarters. As Kay gets closer to the heart of the conspiracy, additional
murders happen in quick succession. Before long, Kay learns that the villains
are gunning for her, too. Phil, her musically talented but preoccupied husband,
determined to keep her safe, withholds from her the one thing she needs most: the
truth.
My Review:
I was eager to read and review
Bernhardt’s new cozy from my publisher, MuseItUp. The Ginseng Conspiracy is set in the fictional town in Wisconsin near
where I set my own—I think I recognized a couple of characters, too. Big Smile.
Unlike the typical cozy, Bernhardt’s
story unravels much like Columbo. The crime of murder appears after the stage
was set, readers know who dun it, and we follow the amateur sleuth as she and
her sidekicks dig up clues. We want to scream “duck” or “don’t go there!” as
conspirators lurk around every corner. The bad guys have a few scenes of their
own, and there’s something else going on with our sleuth’s marriage that is
part sideline and part red herring. The author did leave a surprise suspect
which kept me turning pages in a hurry.
Ginseng
Conspiracy is a longer mystery, filled with yummy food and lots of
descriptions. Mostly told in first person from Kay, the sleuth’s, point of
view, the reader will occasionally wander into other character’s perspectives.
Kay’s friends are a blast, and the mythical town of Sudbury Falls is a great
place to visit. Fun for those who like meatier cozies. Looking forward to more
of Kay and her buddies to come! Recipes? Please!
About the Author:
Susan Bernhardt’s town in northern Wisconsin was an
inspiration for the quaint setting of her novel. Like Kay Driscoll in her cozy
mystery, The Ginseng Conspiracy,
Susan is a retired nurse who volunteers at her local free clinic. She lives
with her husband, William, and has two sons, Peter and David.
An avid reader of mysteries, she is a member of Sisters in
Crime, Inc. Her other published works include October 31st, Midsummer,
and John and Madeline.
When not writing, Susan loves to travel, bicycle, kayak,
and create culinary magic in her kitchen. She works in stained-glass, daydreams
in her organic garden, stays up late reading mysteries, and eats lots of
chocolate.
