Jo Tulip is a self-styled Smart Chick who writes a syndicated newspaper column ‘Tips from Tulip,’ providing all sorts of advice on household matters. She has a solution for every occasion with the notable exceptions of her own love life, and the mysterious death of one of her neighbours.
he debut novel in a new series, The Trouble with Tulip is an entertaining, engaging read shot through with humour, Christian spirituality, and a wry look at suburban American values. The main characters, Jo and Danny, are believable and likeable and although the beginning of the book is mainly concerned with their personal lives, their involvement in the old neighbour lady’s death soon moves the action along. The police are convinced it is an accident brought about by an excess of cleaning products (which is something that could never happen to me) but Jo is convinced it is murder and using her own special set of skills, she is able to prove it. The suspense of the ‘will she, won’t she?’ storyline regarding her relationship with Danny is well integrated with the unmasking of the killer and the combination provides enough intrigue to keep the pages turning.
I enjoyed it. And I picked up a lot of household hints along the way (but I’m
just sad). If you want a book that’s fun but not just froth, then give it a
whirl.
-----
Ruth Wade
Mindy Starns Clark has written a further Smart Chick mystery: Blind Dates
Can be Murder. Her other series The Million Dollar Mysteries comprises:
A Penny for your Thoughts; A Quarter for a Kiss; Don’t Take any Wooden Nickels;
The Buck Stops Here, and A Dime a Dozen.