Review: Peg and Rose Solve a Murder (Peg and Rose #1) by Laurien Berenson

Peg and Rose Solve a Murder (Peg and Rose #1) by Laurien Berenson

Blurb from Goodreads:

In the world of award-winning author Laurien Berenson’s Melanie Travis Canine Mysteries, Peg Turnbull and Rose Donovan, Melanie’s chalk-and-cheese aunts, are especially beloved by readers. Now feisty Peg and sweet-natured Rose are putting their distinct differences to good use and joining forces as senior sleuths in a witty, warmhearted new mystery series . . .

Rose Donovan looks for the good in everyone. With her sister-in-law, Peg, that sometimes requires a lot of searching. Even a sixty-something former nun like Rose has her limits, and gruff Peg Turnbull sure knows how to push them. But after forty years of bickering, they’re attempting to start over, partnering up to join the local bridge club.

Peg and Rose barely have a chance to celebrate their first win before one of the club’s most accomplished players is killed in his home. As the newest members, the sisters-in-law come under scrutiny and decide to start some digging of their own. Bridge is typically seen as a wholesome pastime, yet this group of senior citizens harbors a wealth of vices, including gambling, cheating, and adultery . . .

By comparison, Peg and Rose’s fractious relationship is starting to feel almost functional. But as their suspect list narrows, they’re unaware that their logic has a dangerous flaw. And they’ll have to hope that their teamwork holds steady when they’re confronted by a killer who’s through with playing games . . . 

 I had high hopes for this book since I love the cozy mystery genre and because the cover is SO GOOD!  I was a bit disappointed but will still continue the series.  I think this book suffered a bit from trying to cram in the backstory of the characters but also failed to adequately explain why these characters could solve a murder aside from painting them as nosy old women.  I think there is more depth to the characters and hope it can be harness in the next book!

Peg and Rose Solve A Murder comes out next week on August 30, 2022 and you can purchase HERE.  

Peg Turnbull was standing in the hot sun on a plot of hard-packed grass, starting at a row of Standard Poodles that was lined up along one side of her show ring. She'd been hired to judge a dozen breeds at the Rowayton Kennel Club Dog Show, and she couldn't imagine a better way to spend a clear summer day. Judging dogs involved three of her favorite things: telling people what to do; airing her own opinions; and of course, interacting the dogs themselves.