Publisher's Weekly Review
Stella Lavender, the appealing 26-year-old heroine of Pullen's absorbing first mystery, welcomes the chance to attend an outdoor wedding after spending long hours buying drugs undercover for North Carolina's State Bureau of Investigation. Stella accompanies her book illustrator grandmother, Fern, to the Rosscairn Castle Bed and Breakfast, where Mike Olmert, whose mother is a new client of Fern's, is due to marry the curiously friendless Justine Bradley. Just before the ceremony, Justine is found dead in one of the B&B's guest rooms, evidently the victim of some lethal poison. To Stella's embarrassment, one of those investigating the homicide happens to be her philandering ex-fiance, an SBI researcher. That Justine's murder might never be solved brings back chilling memories of Stella's mother, Grace, who at age 23 was abducted during a gas station robbery and never seen again. Readers will hope to see a lot more of Stella in future installments. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Library Journal Review
Young cop Stella might have moxie, but Fern, her free-spirited grandmother, deserves credit for raising her to be independent. Both are guests at a wedding that's abruptly cancelled when the bride, Justine, is found dead from poisoning. After the autopsy, the plot thickens just a teensy bit when Stella learns that Justine was transsexual. She also finds out that the minister has shady dealings on the side and that the groom's ex-girlfriend has secrets, too. Concurrently, Stella is working undercover on drug stings, and to her surprise, one of the wedding guests turns out to be a major drug dealer. Stella has a good partner, but he's no match for the bad guys when her cover is blown. VERDICT Pullen's debut introduces an engaging new detective meeting the challenge of her first homicide. Her ambitious plot might be overstuffed for one book, but I can't wait to head back to North Carolina and meet up with Stella and Fern again. [See Prepub Alert, 8/20/12.] (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
