2007-11-21 They May be False Profits, But They Are Enjoyable

Aggie Sloan-Wilcox and her minister husband Ed are enjoying a weekend away in New York City. But their weekend alone comes to a quick end when they learn that Joe Wagner, a member of their congregation in Ohio, has vanished while in New York on business. Following the few clues they have, they learn the last place he had been seen was a club where he performed as a female impersonator.

They arrive back in Emerald Springs, Ohio, just in time for Mayday!, the annual fundraiser for the local food bank where Joe worked. The fact that he's not there for it means something must have happened to him.

But Joe's disappearance takes a back seat when the mayor's wife dies during the fundraiser. Hazel Kefauvers was a difficult person always sticking her nose into everything. She'd just been made chair of the food bank's board and was making life difficult for everyone. Is that why she died? What part does Joe's disappearance play in the murder? And can Aggie find the missing punch bowl?

As with previous entries in the series, this is a fun cozy mystery. The multiple sub-plots did slow down the story once or twice, but not for very long. The story held plenty of twists before reaching the satisfying climax. The characters are wonderfully real, especially the members of Aggie's family. And Aggie narrates all of this with a nice sense of humor that keeps me coming back for more.

I can't wait to read Aggie's further adventures. If you enjoy a great cozy mystery, don't miss this series.