Dead Men Don't Lye

Soapmaking Mystery #1

by Tim Myers

While minding his family's specialty soap store, Benjamin Perkins gets himself into a lather when his sister Louisa is accused of murdering her sleazy boyfriend Jerry, who was also their ingredient supplier, and must delve into Jerry's sordid past to prove Louisa's innocence. Original.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Crafts

230 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 7, 2006

About the author

Also writes under the pseudonyms Elizabeth Bright, Melissa Glazer, Chris Cavender, and Jessica Beck.

Tim Myers is the author of dozens of short stories published in mystery magazines and anthologies. He lives with his family near the Blue Ridge Mountains he loves and writes about. He is the award-winning author of the Agatha nominated Lighthouse Inn mystery series as well as over seventy short stories. Tim has been a stay-at-home dad for the last twelve years, finding time for murder and mayhem whenever he can.

Series:
* A Lighthouse Inn Mystery
* A Candlemaking Mystery
* A Soapmaking Mystery

Reviews

[Amy]

I had started this before I went on vacation and just couldn't seem to find the time to finish it.. It was pretty good.. 3.5 stars.. Will continue with series...

[Andrea]

A man as the amateur sleuth is new and soap making is a new business to me. I liked the soap making and family parts. The clue seemed a little bit obscure for my taste. The romance was a bit more than I wanted. Mostly because I really hate the love triangle and it seems to be string up that way. So good cozy, but not great.

[Gale Penton]

This one grabbed me from the start. New author and series for me. I loved everything about it and the mystery did not disappoint it had me going to the end.

[Ryan]

Great mystery

This is another murder mysteries read by mystery writer, Tim Myers. The series introduces Benjamin Perkins, he works for his family's soapmaking business. Things get a little slippery, when Benjamin discovers the local distributor, at the bottom of stairs, His face covered in lye. If that isn't bad,hi 's ex-girlfriend, Molly Wilkins, is a cop investigating the case. She fingers Ben's little sister Louisa, as the main suspect. Ben decides to do some sleuthing and figure out who the real killer is. This is actually a great book, I enjoyed these types of murder mysteries. The characters are good and well written for mystery fiction. Within entertaining, interesting, realistic cast of characters from the protagonists to the rest of the characters. I assumed it the writer put a lot of work into each character as well as the setting and plot. The Mistry is your standard whodunit, the way a whodunit should be written, nothing is held back and the clues are given when sleuth figures them out. The capturing of the smalltime life is spot on.

[Katherine Decker]

This was a solid series starter. At first I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the role reversal of the “more usual” set up (woman amateur sleuth with a male officer or detective), but I enjoyed Ben as the amateur and Molly as the detective. Not only was it entertaining, but reading something a bit different was a nice change of pace. The subplot of the soap making classes was not only a bonus, but an interesting one as I know nothing about the process. It felt well researched and explained while not being over technical. At times I found the number of names a tad confusing, but I was glad I kept reading until the end. While I might not run out and read the next book, I will definitely keep it mind for sometime in the future.

[Amy Marie]

I love the way Tim Myers writes family dynamics! Benjamin's family is fun, realistic, and endearing - my favorite element of the story. In addition to that, the mystery was gripping, and I loved the soapmaking elements so much. I can't wait to read more.

[Brandy Dugger]

This was a fun little read. I couldn’t put it down. 3.5 stars. I am excited to read more in the series.

[Linda]

Love all books by Tim Myers. Nice light reading for when you need a break from all that heavy stuff. Very entertaining!

[Mioshee]

Cute and lighthearted

Not bad considering the subject matter. A nice light read as a palette cleanser between heavier reads etc. I call these types of mysteries "junk food books".

[Michelle Randall]

Tim Meyers is turning into one of my favorite authors. I was not sure that a gentlemen could write a good cozy mystery because of the crafting element. I mean, really, how many men have you seen in the crafting section of the store? but, Time Meyers has surprised me over and over. I loved his candle making series, and now I am working my way through his soap making series.

He has a wonder handle on the soap making business, and the craft itself. I love that part of the book. It appeals to the crafer in me and that is the min reason that I love the whole cozy mystery genre in the first place.

The other thing that appeals to me is the whole Perkins family clan. I mean we are talking a large family, in a time when large families are kinda out of fashion, yet there is Ben, the big brother that is expected to just take care of everyone in the family and to right all wrongs and banish all evil. Makes me want to be part of that family, to have a big brother like ben to take care of everything for me.

This book starts with the discover of a soap supplier, who just happened to be dating one of Ben's sister's dead on the back door. Ben's sometime girlfriend Molly, is on the police department, but Ben's over bearing Mom is determined that he meddle into the investigation to clear his sister.

Another wonderful book by Tim Meyers and another wonderful series.

[Lynn]

“Benjamin Perkins, eldest son of a large family who own the boutique Where There's Soap, finds the dead body of one of their suppliers sprawled at the bottom of the back stairs of their small business. Ben's sister Louisa, who had been dating the deceased Jerry Sanger but recently found out he had been two-timing her, becomes the police's prime suspect in the murder. At the request of their mother, Ben investigates Jerry's murder on his own in order to clear his sister”

This Myers book was just horrible – started off ok but every time I turned around he was giving us the lecture on his soap making classes ---super ugh!

[Jill]

A quick read, an interesting mystery. It is the first in a new soapmaking series. The hero and his family own a soap shop, and by teaching a class, the hero tells the reader quite a bit about craft soap making. It doesn't hit you over the head, and I liked the characters. Some of the hero's amateur sleuthing made the policework look really bad - and the convenient "ex-girlfriend who still pines for him" cop always showing up when the police are called - is she the only police office the town has? I hope that is cleaned up (sorry about that pun) in the next soapmaking mystery.

[Nicole Galbraith]

Book 1 in the soapmaking mystery series opens with Ben Perkins finding a body on the steps of his family's store. When his sister becomes a suspect his family looks to him to find the real culprit. I would say the mystery is only average. But, I did find it to be a refreshing twist that the police officer in the story was a woman while it was a man doing the snooping. I will read more in the series.

[Kimberly Ann]

I stopped reading this about 1/2 through the first chapter. I did try to persue the rest of the book, but I gave that up too.

This is written by a man, and the main character (a man) seemed weak to me...his mother is overbearing and his siblings are equally as bad.... The cop in charge of the investigation immediately made a huge mistake in placing blame without any type of investigation.

A Very Weakly written book indeed.

[Sandybear76]

Ben is the soapmaking business with his family. He has 3 brothers and 3 sisters. He teaches soapmaking classes, the brothers run the production line, and the sister and his mom run the shop.Ben finds one of their supliers dead on the back steps of their business. The dead supplier had been dating his sister so his siter is questioned in the death of the salesman.

[Brenda]

Since I started making my own soap from a Melt and Pour kit I enjoyed that this is the way the series started. I hope the next book goes into the soapmaking a little bit deeper. I can't think of anything more enjoyable then stiring my batch of soap as it heats up, watching the oils blend together can be very relaxing.

[Sandra Hernandez]

I've been up and down with this book. I love the soap making and the big family they feel so alive. With that big of a family It was hard to choose my favorite character it would change as I would read. Ben is a good detective I'm glad he actually solved the murderer was not who I expected. Actually can't wait to read the next one.

[Pam]

TITLE/AUTHOR: DEAD MEN DON'T LYE by Tim Myers
RATING: 4/B
GENRE/PUB DATE/# OF PGS: Mystery 2006, 230
CHARACTERS: Benjamin Perkins/manger of family soap store
TIME/PLACE: Present, North Carolina
COMMENTS: 1st in soapmaking cozy mystery series. Cute,light read.

[Mary]

I think this was a poorly written book. I barely managed to finish it. I could go on and on about my issues with it but I'll stick with the Louisiana cake mystery books instead of this author - the way he writes is predictable, over the top, and not very enjoyable for me at all.

[Stephanie]

I am enjoying this series very much. I do wish there were more details about the soap making processes. Sounds like a fun hobby! Good mystery and can't wait for more. I even ordered his other two series based on how much I enjoyed this series.

[Janell]

"Light-hearted" murder mystery that takes place at the family soap factory. Uncomplicated story with a clean plot and language.

[Linda]

A good first entry in the series. You've got to love a mystery that starts with a dead body on the first page. #readforkimberly

[Rosie]

I am totally into this series! I'm even going to use the tips for making soap.