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Mama Detective #8
Mama Cracks a Mask of Innocence
There's not a killer in the world who can hide from Mama....
Dark encounters and deadly lessons
I was happy to volunteer a few days back home to help Mama distribute clothing to the needy. But I didn't expect big-city dangers to follow me all the way to Otis, South Carolina.
Instead of doing good deeds and cooking up a storm, Mama was digging deep into shady secrets after young Brenda Long was discovered dead in a shallow grave. Someone wanted Brenda silenced bad enough to kill, and the list of suspects is long.
But is the killer the drug-dealing teacher that Brenda threatened to expose? Or can it have been the man who was sent to jail after Brenda caught him stealing — now paroled and bent on exacting his revenge?
Everyone knows that Mama has had good luck as the town's unofficial sleuth. But as a maze of tangled relationships leads to dead ends and dead bodies, time is slipping away. For our worst enemies can masquerade as friends — and even Mama's luck can run out....
Dark encounters and deadly lessons
I was happy to volunteer a few days back home to help Mama distribute clothing to the needy. But I didn't expect big-city dangers to follow me all the way to Otis, South Carolina.
Instead of doing good deeds and cooking up a storm, Mama was digging deep into shady secrets after young Brenda Long was discovered dead in a shallow grave. Someone wanted Brenda silenced bad enough to kill, and the list of suspects is long.
But is the killer the drug-dealing teacher that Brenda threatened to expose? Or can it have been the man who was sent to jail after Brenda caught him stealing — now paroled and bent on exacting his revenge?
Everyone knows that Mama has had good luck as the town's unofficial sleuth. But as a maze of tangled relationships leads to dead ends and dead bodies, time is slipping away. For our worst enemies can masquerade as friends — and even Mama's luck can run out....
- GenresAfrican American
208 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 26, 2001
2 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Nora DeLoach
10 books27 followersNora Deloach was a mystery writer. Spent much of her career as social worker; worked professionally in Hampton, SC; moved back to Orlando and then to Atlanta, GA; wrote first novel, Silas, 1991 (published 1993); wrote Mama Solves a Murder, first book in Mama series, 1994; four books in series published by Holloway House, 1994-97; signed to Bantam Books, 1997; first Bantam Mama mystery, Mama Stalks the Past, published 1998; four Mama books published by Bantam, 1998-2001.
Awards: Gold Pen Award nominee, Black Writers Alliance, 2001; twice nominated as Georgia Author of the Year.
Awards: Gold Pen Award nominee, Black Writers Alliance, 2001; twice nominated as Georgia Author of the Year.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 10, 2023
Simone has driven three hours to Otis, South Carolina to help her mother distribute clothes to the needy. This is fine for Simone, but what isn’t is that Mama is also investigating some local secrets that may be tied to the death of a young lady named Brenda Long.
Brenda’s bones have been found in a fresh shallow grave. Her reputation is of a do-gooder. Drugs are being sold in the high school and Brenda is out to stop it. She must have come uncomfortable close to those involved to wind up murdered.
Mama has had success in solving previous cases in and around Otis. This one may be more dangerous than any one she has had before.
The body count rises as Mama traces down leads. So does the danger to Mama and her family. Drug dealing in small town Otis is trying to raise itself to big city level, a deadly demon to deal with.
Mama is a determined character that is known and appreciated by many in Otis — but there are some….
I read this in one sitting. I’m not sure how many books are in the series. I’ve read four so I’ll have to research for more!
Brenda’s bones have been found in a fresh shallow grave. Her reputation is of a do-gooder. Drugs are being sold in the high school and Brenda is out to stop it. She must have come uncomfortable close to those involved to wind up murdered.
Mama has had success in solving previous cases in and around Otis. This one may be more dangerous than any one she has had before.
The body count rises as Mama traces down leads. So does the danger to Mama and her family. Drug dealing in small town Otis is trying to raise itself to big city level, a deadly demon to deal with.
Mama is a determined character that is known and appreciated by many in Otis — but there are some….
I read this in one sitting. I’m not sure how many books are in the series. I’ve read four so I’ll have to research for more!
August 19, 2021
3.5 stars. I enjoyed the mystery and it kept me guessing. The characters are likeable. I've read the first and last books in this series and I would read the middle ones as well.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews