Who would have thought volunteering could be deadly? In Mary E. Koppel’s Cozy Mystery Volunteer To Die, A Denise Reed Mystery every step of the way you learn something new about the characters. Mary is a master of delivering compelling story details. This book is not only easy to comprehend but is a quick and enjoyable read.
Another thing I loved about this book is how relatable it was from the start. You can immediately connect to the main character Denise Reed and how she lives. She is unemployed and she has a shaky relationship with her mother. These dynamics sets the book up to deliver an amazing story with an amazing main character that you’re going to love.
If you love a good laugh combined with artfully crafted serious moments, I recommend this book highly!
Another character that I loved in this book was Louise Butler who introduces us to the murder. We are first introduced to Mrs. Butler as a dependent elderly woman living in a retirement home. However, we soon get to realize that Mrs. Butler not only has ties to Denise Reed’s mother, but also has information on a murder. You always can expect a hard right turn when you least expect it, which comes when Mrs. Butler is explaining the murder of her best friend Tina to Denise Reed. These continuous chains of events lead Denise Reed to set about solving the murder.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book because of the comedic sense we get right from the beginning. The combination of an elderly woman being a retired teacher and Denise Reed starting off as an unreliable detective, set up the book for instant success. Also, the poignant mother/daughter relationship depicted and religious undertones are so satisfying. As the story moves on you can see the characters develop into so much more. If you love a good laugh combined with artfully crafted serious moments, I recommend this book highly!
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