Murder Comes by Mail is a decent mystery

Murder Comes by Mail A Hidden Springs Mystery by Gabhart, A. H. Revell
Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date: May 17, 2016 Review Small towns have a unique flavor, not because people are all that different from city dwellers, but simply because everyone knows everyone. Quirks and follies naturally are more visible. I wasn't very impressed with the beginning of Murder Comes by Mail. After the rescue of a man attempting to commit suicide, the narrative meanders. Not much of interest happens until you are a third of the way through the book. That is when the first victim is discovered and the mystery starts. Slowly I was drawn into the plot and the characters became more real. This book is a bit unusual for a cozy, as the main character is a deputy rather than an amateur. But by no means could Murder Comes by Mail be considered a police procedural. Michael doesn't do much in the way of investigating. The assumption from the get-go is that the jumper is the murderer, and most of the efforts are in identifying him. The actual killer as good as bounces up and down waving his hand without being suspected. Regardless of its flaws, once you get past the first third, Murder Comes by Mail is a good book. Not to mention, a cat saves the day, which is a redeeming feature in my book. 3/5 I received a copy of Murder Comes by Mail from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. --Crittermom Description A Cozy Mystery Complete with a Small Town Full of Charming, Quirky Characters Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane doesn't particularly enjoy being touted as the hero of Hidden Springs after pulling a suicidal man back from the edge of the Eagle River bridge in front of dozens of witnesses--a few of whom caught the breathtaking moments with their cameras. But the media hype doesn't last long as a new story pushes its way into the public consciousness of Hidden Springs' concerned citizens. Photos of a dead girl arrive in the mail, and Michael becomes convinced she was murdered by the man he saved. With a killer one step ahead, things in Hidden Springs begin to unravel. Now Michael must protect the people he loves--because the killer could be targeting one of them next. Readers will love racing along with Deputy Sheriff Keane as the clock ticks in this page-turning mystery.