Deadly Reunion-June Shaw

Deadly Reunion
June Shaw
Five Star, Aug 10 2011, $25.95
ISBN: 9781432824983

Widow Cealie Gunther has not seen many of her high school class in years; so she joins the Alaskan cruise reunion. Also on board is her boyfriend Gil Thurman owner of a Cajun restaurant chain and one of his chefs. Cealie especially looks forward to learning what happened to some of her peers; on the other hand she is not ready for Uncle Stu to be Aunt Sue.

Tetter was the most popular girl in high school, but admits to Cealie she has a humongous problem that she cannot say anything further about. All the attendees are stunned when Randy, married with grandchildren, arrives as no one expected him to attend. Cealie feels like a frump compared to her toned classmates. Aunt Sue flirts with a younger hunk who is soon found dead at the bottom of stairs. Cealie investigates what she believes was a homicide and not an accident. She wonders whether Tetter's issue is the motive or if Aunt Sue became a psychopath when he surgically became she. Finally there is the question of Randy coming on the cruise.

The latest Cealie Gunter independent amateur sleuth thriller is a charming whodunit when the focus is on the classmates; when the story line concentrates on Cealie's relationship with Gil the plot feels repetitive especially for these who have read Killer Cousins. Still with a strong final twist, fans will enjoy Cealie’s inquiry but also when it comes to Gil sing the Lovin’ Spoonful’s Did You Ever Have to make Up Your Mind?

Harriet Klausner