Monday, December 28, 2020

Absence of Alice by Sherry Harris

 
First Lines: Alice Krandle was breathing down my neck. Literally.
 
Even though she was offered a nice lump sum for her antiques, Alice Krandle believes she can make more money by selling them individually through Sarah Winston's garage sale services. Sarah happily takes on the task, but while she's in the midst of pricing each item for sale, her best friend, Stella, is kidnapped.

She's given a long set of instructions, with not talking to her district attorney boyfriend or her friends on the police force right at the top, so  Sarah's only source of help is her new friend Harriet-- who happens to be a former FBI hostage negotiator.

Even though she's alienating those nearest and dearest to her, Sarah has no choice but to keep them out of the loop if she wants to save her friend's life.

~

Wow! In Absence of Alice, Sherry Harris takes the standard framework of a cozy and turns it on its head, making it one of the best books I've read this year. Harris's Garage Sale series has become one of my go-to cozy series because of her cast of characters, her nuggets of garage sale information, and her intriguing mysteries, but this one is on a whole new level. I don't expect edge-of-your-seat suspense and tension when I read a cozy, but it's certainly front and center in Absence of Alice. I was genuinely worried about what was going to happen to Sarah's friend Stella. The kidnapper seemed to know everything Sarah did and everyone she spoke to, and Sarah's emotions at not being able to confide in her nearest and dearest touched my heart.

I was so happy to see that my wish came true after reading the previous book in the series, Sell Low, Sweet Harriet. I wanted more of Harriet, and I got it in Absence of Alice. And-- wonder of wonders-- Harris managed to distract me enough that when the kidnapper's identity was revealed, I was totally gobsmacked. That very seldom ever happens, so I'm always thrilled when it does.

Author Sherry Harris stretches the limits of the typical cozy mystery by putting her main character in an extraordinary position and making her fight her way to the conclusion, but she still remains true to the form. My eyes even welled with (happy) tears at the end, so be forewarned and have tissues handy. Don't worry if you haven't read a Sarah Winston Garage Sale mystery before. Harris gives you the information you need to keep up with the story and let me tell you, this is a story that I don't want you to miss!

Absence of Alice by Sherry Harris
eISBN: 9781496722546
Kensington Books © 2020
eBook, 288 pages
 
Cozy Mystery, #9 Sarah Winston Garage Sale mystery
Rating: A+
Source: Net Galley

13 comments:

  1. You had me at the title, Cathy. That's so clever! And I know what you mean about putting some real tension into the story. It's not easy to write a cozy mystery and still have the 'thriller' aspect in there in a believable way. Interesting context, too - the garage sale. That makes for all sorts of plot possibilities...

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    1. Sherry Harris does an excellent job with this series, Margot.

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  2. Wow! One of the best books you've read this year really catches my interest!

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    1. I enjoy this series anyway, but I think she knocked this book out of the park.

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  3. Ooh! The pun got me! And that it's an A+ is a good sign. It's going on your best books of 2020 list, which is an achievement.
    And combining a cozy and a thriller.

    I'll add it to the already-bloated list.

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    1. Better to have a bloated list than an emaciated one.

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  4. I have a bloated list on two computers.
    Have stayed up late reading Home Before Dark. So in the middle of the night I came to a scary place about what fell out of the ceiling. That was it! Instead of drowsiness, my adrenalin got going and heart started racint. Calm book by which to fall asleep: NOT!

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  5. I thought it could just quietly slide by. It did not. I'm still reading it, but was so happy to go to the library (2nd time since shutdown) and pick up four books.

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  6. I figured out some of the resolution and culprits (not too many to pick from), but not all. Creepiness factor high. But mostly reality based. A bit of a woo-woo moment. But not a book to read late at night unless one wants to keep the lights on and not take the garbage out.

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    1. I only take the garbage out in broad daylight myself, regardless what I'm reading.

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  7. Well, I'm in an apartment building, and the compactor is right next to my front door. So when I won't take out the garbage, that means not walking one foot.

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