Potions and Poisons

One Potion in the Grave (Magic Potion Mystery #2) by Heather Blake (Obsidian mass market paperback, 7 October 2014).

When her old friend Katie Sue Perrywinkle comes into The Little Shop of Potions, Carly Bell Hartwell doesn't recognize her.  Not only has her appearance changed completely, so has her name.  She's calling herself Kathryn Perry now.  Dr. Kathryn Perry.

Katie Sue had left Hitching Post after her grandfather, for whom she'd been the chief caregiver, had passed, leaving her all of the nearly two million dollars he'd amassed playing the stock market.  Katie Sue's relatives, who had left her and her younger sister Jamie Lynn to look after the old man, suddenly reappeared, wanting their share of the money.

Since Katie Sue was leaving for college and medical school, custody of Jamie was granted to their older sister Lyla, who'd been married since high school and was considered to be more stable than a student, no matter how wealthy.

As Carly suspects, Katie Sue tells her she's in town for the wedding of a Senator's son, though she's not exactly on the guest list.  She reveals only that she has some business to settle with the Senator, but Carly is certain that the "business" isn't aboveboard.

When Katie Sue is killed just before the wedding, Carly is furious with herself for not keeping a closer eye on her friend, and determines to figure out who did it.

The residents of Hitching Post, Alabama remind me of the characters in Steel Magnolias -- absolutely unique and unpredictable, completely lovable, and larger-than-life.  I look forward to visiting them again soon.




FTC Full Disclosure:  Many thanks to the publisher for the review copy of the book.