Skating Around the Law by Joelle Charbonneau
Published by Minotaur Books, an imprint of Macmillan
Who says you can’t go home again? Actually, the more pertinent question, to Rebecca Robbins’ way of thinking, is why on earth would you want to go home again? Unfortunately, home is right where Rebecca is. Home from Chicago to small town Indian Falls, IL and trying to sell her mother’s skating rink. Her mother died a year ago, and Rebecca’s grandfather no longer feels that he can run the place – although he seems sufficiently spry to date half of the older women in Indian Falls. Rebecca assumes this sale will take a week or two and that she will then be able to get back to her job as a mortgage broker in Chicago, but then a local teenager finds Mack, a town handyman, dead of foul play in one of the toilets at the rink, something that is sure to scare off potential buyers. Now if Rebecca ever wants to get back to Chicago, she is going to have to figure out what happened to Mack, because Indian Falls’ elderly sheriff certainly can’t be counted on to do the job.
I am still somewhat in awe that “Skating Around the Law” is a debut book. Charbonneau has such a strong and confident voice to her writing that it seems as if she has been doing this for years and years. “Skating Around the Law” was funny without being stupidly silly, but it definitely had me laughing out loud at parts – I don’t want to spoil the amusing surprise for you, so let me just say it has to do with an unexpected hat.
Rebecca was really a great character. She walked very well the line of wanting to get back to her own life in Chicago without seeming so denigrating of Indian Falls that she came off unlikeable. I also very much enjoyed her mutual attraction to the town vet. Charbonneau included just enough sexual tension to keep things fun, without making Rebecca or the book seem skanky.
Fabulous debut, I loved the plotting of the whole thing, and the way that the mystery wrapped up. Really it was just all very well done. Very highly recommended, and I can’t wait for the next in the series.
Buy this book from:
Powells.*
A local independent bookstore via Indiebound.*
Amazon.*
Joelle Charbonneau’s website
“Skating Around the Law” is Charbonneau’s debut book, but we can look forward to the sequel, “Skating Over the Line” (release date TBA).
* These links are all affiliate links. If you buy your book here I’ll make a very small amount of money that goes towards hosting, giveaways, etc.
This looks delightful. Except I’m a big shocked she thought it would only take 2 wks to sell a business in a small town. But that is my practical-former-realtor-brain talking
Couldn’t agree more. Fantastic mystery debut that’s sweet, fun and giggleworthy. The redheaded Rebecca and her ladies’ man grandfather are endearing characters who will appeal to a broad audience.
This does sound like a good start to a new series.
I’ve never heard of this one before but it sounds like one I would enjoy. I like that there is a second in the series. I like getting invested in characters and having the opportunity to read about their further adventures.
See, this is the perfect example of why we need to read each other’s book reviews. I would have never in a million years given a second glance at a book with a roller skating girl on the front! Had enough of that in my high school years. It sounds like fun though!
YAY! A new series! I love mysteries and I love series. This definitely sounds like something I would enjoy. Great review.
This sounds really good – looking forward to checking it out now too!
Glad you enjoyed this one so much, I’ll have to check it out!