Mystery Book Club Morgue Mama: The Cross Kisses Back by C.R. Corwin Buy book: $16.73
The morgue is that cold and sterile facility where medical examiners do their necessary but, to many of us, dreadful work. Less familiar is its dry and dusty version, usually housed in the bowels of newspaper buildings, where old story clippings are filed away. Dolly Madison Sprowls has been in charge of the Hannawa Herald-Union's morgue for more than 40 years. She is gruff and salty, well past the age of retirement, the unchalleneged queen of her ink-stained domain. Reporters call her Morgue Mama--but only behind her back. Maddy Sprowls' well-ordered world gets turned upside-down when the paper hires 24-year-old Aubrey McGinty for its police beat.
Looks to be a great read -- crusty "Mama Morgue" in the dusty bowels of the newspaper - glad it's not a "real" morgue - that lightens things up a bit - but still looking forward to a good mystery --
Am loving this book - the way it's written etc. - can just picture the televangelist with his long gray hair blow-dried and styled with waves combed back - she's got it nailed --
One thing that has bugged me for a long time - maybe someone can explain it to me -- why is Ohio and surrounding states (?)referred to as the mid-west? When I look at a map of the US - I certainly would not call it midwest -- To me the right of the center of the US is east - the left is west and midwest would be the center or mid of the west --
Let me put it to you this way...by people in the Midwest (Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, etc), Pennsylvania is referred to as "Mid-Atlantic". Ohio....is pretty much on the boarderline, to be honest. Cleveland is definately an Eastern city, but Cincinnatti has that Midwestern flavor. Being from Nebraska gives me an interesting perspective on what it means to be "Midwestern". :)
Am enjoying this delightful lighthearted read and think she has met her match with the new reporter -- enjoyed the little repartee between them concerning the files --
I think that the Midwest got that name because, historically in this country, people made the move from the East to the West. The "Midwest" would be right in the middle of the journey. Now, I could be wrong, but that's what I've always thought.
Just couldn't help responding - even tho' the week is up.
Ohio is consider "midwest" because it is part of what was
called the Midwest Territories - Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
Wisconsin, and the very eastern part of Minnisota.
When I first started this book I also rolled my eyes. I thought it would be too cutsey and quirkey for me.
Some of those "cozy" mystery authors go way over the top with that stuff and it annoys me, BUT this one is surprising me. I am liking it. I am going to order it from the library.
I am also from Nebraska and don't really think of Ohio as the Midwest. Don't really know what I would call it, but it aint the Midwest to me!
I too was surprised by this book. I almost deleted it after reading the title & description. However, I gave the first read a try and I was hooked. I am enjoying the writing style and wit of the author. I will request it from the library. Once again, a book I normally would not have picked out on my own. I love this book club!
well, it's quirky, it's fun, I'm sure I'd like it but I'm not going to jump through any hoops to get it. Maybe I'll look for it at a used book sale or something...
I think this is one of the best mysteries I have ever read, and I read a different book every 3 days. I review mysteries on the web so I have to to keep up.
I thought the ending was fabulous and thoroughly enjoyed Morgue Mama. I hope there will be more in this series.
Dawn
This message has been edited by chapteraday on Nov 19, 2004 8:53 AM
