TWICE DEAD is the sequel to the first highly entertaining Taylor Madison adventure, DIAMONDBACK. Dearl has another hit on her hands with TWICE DEAD! This time out Taylor (assisted by her ferret buddy Hazel and her hunky Sheriff boyfriend Cal Arnette) gets into trouble trying to keep her friend Bonita Posey from being charged with the 30 year old murder of her snake of a husband. As old friends and enemies of Bo Posey crawl out of the woodwork, Taylor has her hands full keeping Bo and herself alive. The story is as action-packed and entertaining a read as you could ever hope for. I'm hoping this is a series that will last for many years to come.

Twenty-eight-year-old Taylor Madison knows that the tucked-away town of Perdue, Texas is far from innocent. She actually lives in the home of the recently deceased Sheriff Miles Crawford and knows it wasn't a snakebite that killed her biological father. He was murdered and Taylor made sure the crime was solved. Trying to hold on to a normal life, she has Deputy Sheriff Cal Arnette and a ferret named Hazel to give her a healthy dose of love. And in good time she'll be working on her next novel.

The need for food is first on Tayor's list, so she heads out to Posey's Grocery. Bonita, the 82-year-old owner, has taken the day off. Arnold, her assistant, informs Taylor that today is "the anniversary," and that's why Bonita isn't at work. He also mentions that his boss is going to have a yard sale to get rid of several decades of accumulated treasures. Cal and Taylor head out to Bonita's home. Taylor immediately falls in love with a roll top desk, but it's the unexpected visitor that stuns them all. Hoping to clear out a blocked chimney in Bonita's cottage, Cal pokes a broom handle up the opening and bones and a skull are released from their makeshift grave.

There's no doubt in Bonita's mind that the remains belong to her husband, Ralph, who all believed ran off 35 years ago with money from the church safe. Being a man of the law, Cal has to report the discovery to his station and Lubbock County's police department where there's a better-equipped forensic team. Bonita is immediately considered the prime suspect being Ralph's widow and having openly confessed to hating the man. No matter what Deputy Oliver Burke and County Commissioner Dave Underwood believe, Taylor knows Bonita is innocent and sets out to prove it.

With a little help from Paula, the station's dispatcher, Taylor puts her instinct into gear and gets down to the truth of the crime. Layers of dirt on Ralph Posey are uncovered, from the Evangelist preacher's knack in getting community donations for his Church of the Rapture and call-in prayer line to his sleeping around ways even after he was married to Bonita. Another suspect is Harry Harvey, Ralph's right-hand man. What does he know about the murder and a number of related incidents?

Taylor's neighbor, Dorothy Stenson, also plays a major role by bringing Bonita's daughter and granddaughter back in her life.

This small town whodunit will have you wondering just what lurks in small town life, at least in this fictional town. Realistic characters add a special touch to this weekend novel and you'll want a curious little Hazel of your own. The book flows well and will have you searching for future mysteries of Elizabeth Dearl.

--4 out of 5 TRENCHCOATS
--Denise Fleischer, GWN Online book reviewer
[email protected] 2/17/2002