A Matter of Pedigree
A Carole and Poopsie Mystery #1
By Leslie Meier
ISBN 9781496753021
Lesliemeierbooks.com
Brought to you by Jeanie
Synopsis:
The author of the popular Lucy Stone mysteries returns with this brand-new series about two newly wealthy Rhode Island empty-nesters.
Carole Capobianco has always counted her blessings, but it’s even more fun now that she and her husband Frank are finally making serious money, thanks to Frank’s newly patented Bye-Bye Toilet. With the kids finally on their own, Carole and Frank are empty-nesters, which will give her uninterrupted time to add to her impressive shoe collection—and lavish care on Poopsie, her beloved, very spoiled Brittany spaniel. The cherry on top is a hefty bid on a luxury co-op in a prestige building . . .
But that dream is quickly flushed when the offer is refused by venture capitalist Hosea Brown. Hearing the claim that the Capobiancos won’t fit into their wealthy, snooty community, Frank is outraged enough to roar something about killing that “old Yankee” on his way out the door. Three months later, Carole is shocked by the news that Hosea has been bludgeoned to death.
When Carole learns Hosea was one of the backers of a big new construction project for which Frank’s company has also been contracted, she’s worried. And that worry grows with every new twist in the case that’s discovered. Armed with her favorite Jimmy Choos and her beloved, if quirky, Poopsie, Carole sets out to clear Frank’s name—and just maybe save their lives . . . (From Goodreads)
Review:
Welcome to Province, Rhode Island in this first in a new cozy mystery series! This cozy started much slower than I prefer. The mystery itself was intriguing with red herrings and several plot twists. Carole and Frank, at first, seemed the definition of nouveau riche. Frank, a lifelong plumber, could use a class in social graces, but Carole does adore him. Carole has a good eye for colors and interior design, and an even better eye for fashionable attire. I did develop warmer feelings for Carole, especially after seeing her with Giovana, her dear mother-in-law.
Frank and Carole’s lifestyle had changed dramatically. They once lived in a tenement in Providence, in a well-cared for building owned by Frank’s parents. They are now empty-nesters except for Carole’s spoiled Brittany Spaniel, Poopsie. They bid to purchase a multi-million-dollar condo in what was once a huge ancestral home, Prospect Place. When there were only two family members left, the brothers divided it into five condos.
The real estate agent took Carole and Frank to meet one of the owners, Hosea Browne, selling a condo for his brother, Jon. All condo owners except Jon were there to meet and hopefully approve of the Capobiancos. The other owners fully approved of them. Hosea, however, refused them, saying they should live among people like them?!? On the way out, Frank muttered just loud enough for all to hear that he would like to kill that old man.
Five months later, Carole, her pup, Poopsie, and Frank lived in a luxury apartment as a short-term solution. They had a wonderful view that included The Factory, a mixed-use project being built within walking distance. Frank’s family’s plumbing business had the contract to provide all of the plumbing for the project. Including his patented, very expensive Bye Bye toilet. It exceeded all other similar fixtures and was the source of their new-found wealth.
Hosea was an investor at The Factory job site, and was found murdered there. Frank’s competitor for the plumbing contract told the police that Frank must have killed him. Even though Frank helped them get the HVAC contract, Mitch Chase simply wanted to cause trouble for Frank.
Mitch Chase convinced the police so well that those who owned condos at Prospect Place were also questioned. They told the police of Frank’s threat to kill Hosea. Frank was questioned, and subsequently charged with murder. Thankfully, he was released on bail. The murder weapon was not found, but the wound looked as if caused by a pipe.
Frank, in all his bluster and panic, wanted Carole to find who the real killer was to keep him out of prison. I’m not sure if Carole had ever read a mystery, but Mom (Giovana) was a good teacher. Frank’s mom and Carole were much closer than Carole and her own mother, and Giovana got them into Prospect Place to snoop. They would be cleaning ladies in disguise, as Prospect Place had a help wanted post. They hoped to learn something from the other owners. What a tangled web that produced! Giovana learned more from her friends and observing the home than they did from the condo owners.
The characters were a work in progress, and I liked Carole and her heart of gold much better as the story continued. She became more like a fully-dimensional person. She was actually a warm, witty, somewhat quirky lady who developed a new confidence borne of helping solve the murder with Poopsie’s help.
Frank wasn’t my favorite, and that didn’t change by the end of the novel. He remained the wheeling, dealing, plumbing specialist with the demeanor of a man who spent much of his life on construction sites. He did, however, have a huge soft spot for Carole.
A quick moral of this mystery? Never say out loud that you’d like to kill someone! It doesn’t go well for you if they are murdered. While the novel starts slow with one-dimensional characters, it did pick up speed, especially when Giovana and Carole donned cleaning woman duds. Carole will become a fine sleuth over time, especially with Poopsie’s help. I recommend this first in series to those who appreciate cozy mysteries with unlikely sleuths and dogs.
