Shadow Dancing (The Country Club Murders Book 7)
By: Julie Mulhern
Rating: 5 of 5
The Country Club Murder series is focused on the 1970’s with country club living at its core. Ellison Russell was born with the silver spoon in her mouth and has been spending the last several years trying get beyond it. Ellison is an up and coming artist whose work regularly sells out, so she has learned the value of money earned for work she has done – something that was missing from her earlier years.
In this series, Ellison keeps coming across dead bodies. It is happening with such regularity that her mother (who is country club to the core) is finding life embarrassing. It appears that finding murder victims is not the thing at all in their crowd.
In this story, Ellison actually comes to the aid of someone in difficulties. The story expands beyond a mystery into a discussion on social values of the time and place. Not a social commentary, mind you, but something that opens your eyes a little more than the standard cozy mystery book.
There are young girls who are being found shot dead. That these girls are working girls and underage is a shock to Ellison. She has a daughter, Grace, who is approximately the same age which brings the subject home to her in a real way.
Many of the recurring characters are back – Anarachy Jones, of course, as Ellison’s favorite detective. Mother and Father, Grace and Aggie, Jinx and Libby make their marks.
There are personal revelations and relationship growth. The book was a fun and fast read and has left me waiting for the next in the series with as much anticipation as I have had all along.
I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.