Author: Pamela June Kimmel

ISBN: 1591330629

The following review was submitted by:  E.Dian Moore &  To read more about Dian Moore’s reviews click HERE

To read Dian's Interview With the Author CLICK HERE

 First in a new mystery series starring private investigator Bailey Ferrol, the Mystery of David’s Bridge is a charming read, well suited to an afternoon curled on a porch swing accompanied by a tall glass of cool, southern sweet tea. And cake. Readers will delight in the hometown feel of the book’s pacing and long for the simple life, with a few mysteries thrown in, such as that in the much-loved Mayberry RFD scenarios. Only instead of the Carolina’s, David’s Bridge is a small town in Virginia; and as in all small towns, its residents, their individual habits, hobbies and quirks define the character of the place. David's Bridge is no exception.

 Bailey has inherited her father’s investigating business, as well as the law enforcement relationships he built. As her father’s daughter, Bailey not only continues to fill her father’s shoes, but adds a feminine flair as well. Single, smart and savvy, this heroine is ripe for romance and intrigue—but she also enjoys hot cocoa and spending time with her cat, Eddy, when he's not destroying her favorite bunny slippers.

 The "mystery" of David's Bridge is multi-layered, beginning with a simple set of background checks on candidates for Jaqueline Ranier's personal assistant. Ranier, along with her husband, owns Triple Oaks, a wealthy horse farm.

 A bigger mystery is uncovered, though, after torrential rainfalls reveal the bones of a long-missing womanizer whose favorite prey were the women of the area estates. How do background checks on prospective employees tie in with an unsolved murder? This question keeps the pages turning in David's Bridge.

 The candidates seem simple, at first. Grace, an 18-year-old local airhead with no experience, except in the field of man shopping; Tammy, a shy but talented seamstress and typist, and a horse lover to boot; and Valerie, presently employed as a personal secretary at another large horse farm near Charlottesville.

 As Bailey begins her investigation, unusual facts about each candidate become known and pique her interest to go a step further and find out the underlying motivation of each of the applicants. Bailey becomes curious, careful…, and conniving when a series of hang-up calls, a misspelled warning note and a threatening photo of Eddie the Cat follow one another early in the investigations.

 Pros: Interesting mysteries and a well-thought out twist tying them together. Characters are believable and interesting.

 Cons: Dialogue is a bit overdone (common in first novels) and unnecessary information slows the pace of the story. The back cover blurb should have guided the book's plotline—the touted mystery is not introduced until two-thirds of the way through. A flip-flop of the plot line could easily solve this problem.

 Recommendation: If you like quaint, hometown intrigue, this is the book for you, and more will follow. If you like fast-paced, sophisticated intrigue along the lines of Grisham and Sanford, this is not your cup of tea – but give it a try anyway, for a change of pace.

 Bottom line: This is an author to watch as she works out the kinks in plot development and writing style. With a few minor touch-ups, such as switching around the plot line and tightening the dialogue and narrative, The Mystery of David's Bridge is a more than a worthwhile read. It is a jewel to treasure and take out to rediscover time and again. I predict the next book in the series will be faster moving as the author has introduced the backstory in this first of the series. I will be reading the next book to follow Bailey Ferrol's escapades.