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E.J. Pugh #5
A Crooked Little House
Romance writer, Texas mother, and amateur sleuth E. J. Pugh sets out to prove that despite being the black sheep of the family, her sister-in-law is no murderer, and plunges into a morass of sex, drugs, and depravity in her fifth appearance. Original.
- GenresMystery
352 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1999
About the author
Susan Rogers Cooper
45 books27 followersSusan Rogers Cooper is an American mystery novelist. A self-proclaimed "half fifth generation Texan; half Yankee", she sets her novels in Texas (the E.J. Pugh and Kimmey Kruse novels) and in Oklahoma (the Sheriff Milt Kovak novels). She is currently living in Central Texas, coming up with fresh new ways to get her characters into trouble.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 19, 2012
This novel is less a mystery than an in-depth examination of a few weeks in the life of an entertaining and intriguing family in suburban Texas. The mystery of who murdered a young homeless woman is really the framework from which to dangle a whole houseful of family members from bright children to irascible mothers-in-law.
Eloise Pugh is a romance writer. She lives in Codderville, Texas, in a home undergoing construction of a major addition. In addition to the construction workers, assorted pets, and three children plus a husband are in residence. Written in the first person, readers are treated to EJ’s often delightful, practical and frequently artful coping techniques.
These are wonderful characters, created by a writer with great skill and a fine eye for detail. There just are no missteps, even among certain characters who I doubt very much are a routine part of the author’s environment.
EJ’s family is happily preparing for the imminent high school prom of one of her charges. Their mood is abruptly shattered when EJ’s errant sister-in-law is charged with the murder of that homeless woman. Never one to simply accept apparent reality, EJ determines to save her reluctant sister-in-law by finding the real murderer. EJ’s path of detection becomes a wandering, twisting road of deception, doubt and several surprises.
Perceptively written, well-paced, “A Crooked Little House” is a lot of fun and informative as well.
Eloise Pugh is a romance writer. She lives in Codderville, Texas, in a home undergoing construction of a major addition. In addition to the construction workers, assorted pets, and three children plus a husband are in residence. Written in the first person, readers are treated to EJ’s often delightful, practical and frequently artful coping techniques.
These are wonderful characters, created by a writer with great skill and a fine eye for detail. There just are no missteps, even among certain characters who I doubt very much are a routine part of the author’s environment.
EJ’s family is happily preparing for the imminent high school prom of one of her charges. Their mood is abruptly shattered when EJ’s errant sister-in-law is charged with the murder of that homeless woman. Never one to simply accept apparent reality, EJ determines to save her reluctant sister-in-law by finding the real murderer. EJ’s path of detection becomes a wandering, twisting road of deception, doubt and several surprises.
Perceptively written, well-paced, “A Crooked Little House” is a lot of fun and informative as well.
September 11, 2017
I really liked this book. The characters are so realistic, especially the way the family members interact with one another. I love the main character's sass and honesty. The "Southern sayings" are a little over the top, however. As a Southern girl, I know many of them ring true, but I do not know anyone that talks that way all the time. Good mystery and good characters. I look forward to more from this author.
June 1, 2019
Ok read, wasn't a huge fan
May 9, 2020
Funny - the book had me laughing out loud - I could identify with some aspects of her life.
April 11, 2010
EJ Pugh's life is in its usual chaos when her husband decides to put an addition on the house and her sister-in-law decides to leave her four year old son with EJ's mother-in-law, Vera. With her three kids and Vera's ward, EJ's life is full and overflowing with energy. Brenna goes to the prom, gets a scholarship, and is deciding college. The addition workers are less than ideal, and the sister in law is homeless and then is accused of murder.
EJ can't leave it alone. She uses her nosy parker ways to dig into the victim's sad life and uncover even sadder truths. Justice wills out but not without a cost to the heart as friendships end, and lives move into new phases.
Cooper has a way of making an ordinary life seem not only ordinary but also extraordinary, mostly because of the glue: love.
EJ can't leave it alone. She uses her nosy parker ways to dig into the victim's sad life and uncover even sadder truths. Justice wills out but not without a cost to the heart as friendships end, and lives move into new phases.
Cooper has a way of making an ordinary life seem not only ordinary but also extraordinary, mostly because of the glue: love.
March 15, 2009
A En.J. Pugh mystery. She is a romance writer, wife, and mother who also dabbles in solving mysteries. Her former sister-in-law is arrested for murder and E.J. seeks to find the real murderer . She essentially sticks her nose into where it doesn't belong and while solving the murder, also produces some problems along the way.
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December 22, 2008I'm discovering the E.J. Pugh series by Susan Rogers Cooper. I enjoy the juxtaposition of domestic ordinariness with the drive to solve the puzzle. I have similar curiosity and interests but not nearly the courage of E.J.
October 30, 2008
I really like Coopers' Milt Kovacs series. The E.J.Pugh series--not so much.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews