Relative Danger

Great Read!!!

Relative Danger by June Shaw (Thomson - Gale 2006) is a mystery written from the perspective of a baby boomer. It is the first adventure for Cealie, a sexy grandmother, who is out to 'find herself'. She stumbles on a mysterious death at her granddaughter's (Kat) high school while in town for Kat's graduation. Relative Danger is an easy and fun read. Although it's a mystery, Relative Danger is laced with humor and insight into the aging of woman who was recently widowed and coping well. The reader will relate to and love the characters, from Cealie's single parent, somewhat depressed son, Roger to perky but honor student granddaughter, Kat. And then there is Gil, Cealie's sometimes boy friend, and my favorite, 'Chicken Boy'. Cealie becomes a snoop when Kat avoids school just before graduation because of the suspected murder of the school's janitor. Cealie was determined to see Kat graduate based on son Roger's deceased wife's wish that her daughter graduate. There are unexpected twists and turns in the plot that will keep the reader in suspense until Cealie finally solves mystery. Relative Danger is a great launch for what could be a series for Granny turned private eye Cealie. However, as a male, sometimes I found that I was given too much information about some of Cealie's female 'problems'. Ironically, this look into how a widowed Baby Boomer overcomes aging problems may make Relative Danger a surprise best seller. I highly recommend Relative Danger. It just may be a book that will make rainy summer vacation days a little sunnier.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great Read!

I couldn't put it down!

Reviewed by Marta Morrison for TeensReadToo.com

I enjoyed the character of Cealie Gunther, the amateur grandmother detective, in this exciting adventure story.

Cealie goes to Chicago for her granddaughter's high school graduation and finds that her smart granddaughter is very scared and isn't going to school. One of the janitors has been murdered at the school and, for some reason, her granddaughter is now scared of attending.

Cealie then decides to substitute at the high school and find out who the murderer is.

I loved the fact that by the end of the story, Cealie has not only solved the mystery and connected with the man she loves, but also has mega-respect for teachers. Being a teacher myself, I always appreciate the acknowledgment that our job is not easy.

Being 50+ years old, I loved the love story and could identify with the feelings of an older adult -- but for teens, I could imagine the groans when the main character discusses her feelings about a sexual relationship. If they can get around that idea, though, then I think they will enjoy the rest of the novel.

Great new mystery series

Caelie Gunther arrives in town a few days before her granddaughter Kat¿s graduation only to find out Kat may not graduate at all. Caelie made a deathbed promise to Kat¿s mother that she would see Kat graduate, so she is determined to make Kat graduate. Kat explains that a school janitor was killed. Her favorite teacher is no longer speaking to her so she has no interest in going to school. Caelie signs up to be a substitute teacher at the high school to get Kat back in classes. In the school Caelie encounters some rude students and there are some mysterious incidents as well as more violence. Can she find the killer in time for Kat to complete her final exams and graduate? Will the fact that her ex-lover Gil Thurman is in town at his new restaurant sidetrack her plans? I enjoyed Caelie. She is a great senior sleuth. She is a lot of fun and cares about her family but doesn¿t want to be tied down to them or them to her. Apparently she moves around a lot. She doesn¿t want to get tied down in a relationship either. This makes her a very interesting character and also very three-dimensional in my eyes. The sparks always fly when she¿s with Gil. There is a lot of mystery as to what might develop between them. I hope that eventually something does. I like the way Caelie interacts with her granddaughter and son as well. I highly recommend this book.

As much a family drama than an amateur sleuth whodunit

When her beloved spouse died, Cealie Gunther decided she needed to find herself as she felt lost as a couple. She opened up a successful business Deluxe Copy Editors and soon met restaurateur Gil Thurman, owner of Cajun Delights, and they share a romance hotter than his hottest sauce until she decides to end it as she lacked his confidence.-------------------- Cealie visits her widower son Roger and her granddaughter Kat in order to see the latter graduate from Skidmore High School. She sees Roger is still grieving the death of his wife Nancy and notices that something is bothering Kat, who is skipping classes. To help her granddaughter, Cealie accepts a substitute teaching position at the school and soon learns that custodian Mr. Labruzzo died from a fall with Kat¿s favorite teacher Marisa Hernandez as the prime suspect. Unable to resist she begins to investigate, which places her in danger from a killer, alienates Kat by butting in, and desires Gil, who opens up a Cajun Delights in town.-------------- RELATIVE DANGER is as much a family drama than an amateur sleuth whodunit though the latter is cleverly designed to enhance the relationships between three generations of Gunthers. Cealie is a delightful protagonist whose asides (and too frequent laments) and bad run on cars make her a grandmotherly chick lit heroine as all she wants to do is help her angst-laden granddaughter. Readers will enjoy this fine academic mystery starring a feisty protagonist who out of love tries to uncover the identity of a killer.------------------- Harriet Klausner

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