Drawing Conclusions

By Deirdre Verne

ISBN# 9780738741314

Author’s Website: http://www.deirdreverne.com

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

Synopsis:

CeCe dumpster dives her way through this suspense-filled murder mystery.

CeCe Prentice is a most unusual young woman. Heiress to a large fortune thanks to her doctor father, who is the head of a genome company on Long Island, Cece is also a freegan–ecologically-minded and socially conscious. If that happens to include dumpster diving for half an old hamburger, previously started by someone she has never met, then so be it.

Cece would still be going about her ordinary, albeit weird, life had her beloved twin brother Teddy not been murdered. Drawn into the police investigation, CeCe uses her sketching abilities and knowledge of her father’s company to provide Detective DeRosa with the clues he needs to ferret out what happened to Teddy. But she soon realizes that this mystery is much more complicated than she ever imagined.

 Review:

The story begins with CeCe (proper name is Constance) and Charlie dumpster diving.  Curious as to all things Freegan…I did a quick internet search and came up with (from Wikipedia):

Freeganism is the practice of reclaiming and eating food that has been discarded. Freegans and freeganism are often seen as part of a wider “anti-consumerist” ideology, and freegans often employ a range of alternative living strategies based on limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources.

So a cozy mystery with the main protagonist a freegan…definitely got my interest.  A cozy mystery which has provided me with an opportunity to learn more about an alternative lifestyle along with interesting and captivating main characters.

In the first few pages….quite a few chuckles.  In this quote CeCe and Charlie are dumpster diving:

“What would they book us on?” 

“How about wilful consumption of post-dated food?”

“Funny. What about ‘premeditated attempt to lower the carbon footprint?’”

So right from the beginning I get the feeling that I am really going to like this author’s style, as I am a sucker for unusual and ‘puny’ humor.

The writing grabbed this reader and brought me into the thick of the lives of the residents.  I quickly became invested in the impact of the murder of CeCe’s twin (Teddy – Theodore) and all that entailed. CeCe lives with Charlie, Trina, Jonathan and Becky in the hamlet’s harbor master’s home (a home that CeCe inherited, along with a large trust when she turned 21).  Trina and Jonathon handle most of the farming.  Charlie and CeCe are childhood friends (and Charlie is also Teddy’s best friend), Becky designs clothing from discarded fabrics.  We quickly learn that as a result of CeCe’s alternative lifestyle (freeganism and wanting to live off the grid) she is estranged from her family (except Teddy).  But now that Teddy is dead, CeCe will need to interact with her father and mother.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories – the central clearing house for all things DNA in the United States and around the globe.  Its founder and lead scientist is none other than CeCe and Teddy’s father – Dr. William Prentice.  How deep he is involved in what turns out to be Teddy’s murder is interesting and convoluted.

The death of Teddy is communicated by Detective Frank DeRosa to CeCe.  As an artist, CeCe has quite the eye and sees a familiarity in DeRosa as soon as she looks into his face.  Turns out that…oh….you will just have to read the book yourself to find out this tidbit 🙂

As time went on, I really feel sorry for CeCe’s mother.  Turns out she has a serious problem with alcohol dependency.  The downward spiral was triggered by early life experiences precipitated by Dr. William Prentice.  Those twists and turns were what kept me on the edge of really figuring out what was going on until the end of the story.  And let me tell you…there are many twists and turns…at times I really had to think hard to keep it all straight.  But it was worth it in the end.

I really enjoyed the coming together and pulling apart of CeCe and Charlie.  Their dependency upon each other, to get through this horrific time, is heartwarming.  While I am glad they supported each other, I am also glad that a permanent romantic relationship was not in the cards for these two.  But never fear…there is romance!

All in all, a great first read by an author new to me….