Death of a Dapper Snowman by Angela Pepper ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Are you not really into holiday romances but still want a good winter story? Then you should pick up Death of a Dapper Snowman the first book in the Stormy Day Mystery series by Angela Pepper.

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December 2014; 978-1502711441
audio, ebook, print (345 pages); cozy mystery

I picked up this book last year when it was free. It is still a free read for Kindle Unlimited subscribers and only 99 cents for everyone else. It's a fun read worth the dollar.

Stormy Day (yes, that's her real name - her sister is Sunny) has returned to her small hometown after a rumored meltdown in the big city. Starting over in a small town is never easy, but one where everyone knows everyone since practically birth is even more difficult. But Stormy is determined to make it work. She has already purchased a rental property and a gift store with plans for more real estate investments. With her career headed in the right direction, she is working on her personal image. That's how she discovers the dead body in the snowman. She thought it would be cute to take a selfie with the good looking man made of snow, though it needs a little tweaking to get the head straight leading to the head coming off to reveal the head of the next door neighbor.

Do you ever find it ironic when you are reading a book and something is going on in the character's life that is also happening in your own life? On the same day I started the book, I took my new cat in for her spay. Stormy is tasked with taking her father's girlfriend's cat to the vet to be neutered in the opening chapters of the book. At least I didn't have to chase my cat around outside in the snow.

As this is the first book in the series, there is a lot of groundwork being laid as to all the characters are. They felt like characters that you would really come to love over the course of a series. They all have great potential to be a little quirky, but a lot endearing.

Stormy is a great amateur sleuth. Her dad is a retired police officer and she has learned a lot from him. I hope the police officers don't become completely inept, Barney Fife type characters. In this book, they seemed more like they were just small-town cops that lacked resources, but at this point, it could go either way. I'm leaning towards them staying competent.

Christmas is weeks away in the story so it isn't really a holiday story, but the winter setting is perfect for reading this time of year. The story is being set up for a potential romantic relationship further in this series, but we get just the basic framework in this story. So it is great to balance all the holiday romance stories out there. I recommend reading this while sipping a melted snowman (see recipe below). There are 5 books out so far in the series and I for one would definitely keep reading.

Buy Death of a Dapper Snowman at Amazon

Recipe: Melted Snowman
1 pack of French vanilla Carnation instant breakfast
1 cup milk
cinnamon

Mix milk with the French vanilla Carnation instant breakfast pack in a mug and then heat in microwave (about 1 minute) until warm. Sprinkle cinnamon on top.

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

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