Fearing, Texas - Present Day

Septuagenarian amateur detective Esbeth Walters must face one of her greatest fears. When local good-ol'-boy Boose asks for help in tracking down the con man who stole money from his mother, resulting in her being kicked out of Oakline Hills Rest Home, Esbeth promises to do what she can to help. However, the thought of even visiting the rest home gives her a sick feeling. Having lived alone her entire life, the thought of lost privacy and dignity is Esbeth's personal nightmare. With little hope of catching the surely long-gone con man, Esbeth gathers her courage and pays a visit to Oakline Hills. There she is introduced to resident Gardner Burke, a retired forensic scientist who lost his will to live alone after the death of his wife. Now sick of playing a half-wit to retain his spot in the home, Gardner escapes with Esbeth with a vow to help her find the con man and to find out about the rapid exit of residents who are soon to lose their ability to pay for their care.

Esbeth decides to seek the help of law enforcement, who are not too fond of her meddling ways, and finds further complications to her quiet life. As she attempts to speak with the local sheriff, Esbeth is approached by Adele Kilgore, a recent widow whose husband's death was ruled a suicide. Adele swears that he was tortured and murdered and wants Esbeth to investigate and help overturn the suicide verdict. Taking pity on the young woman, Esbeth agrees to see what she can dig-up. Suddenly, the town of Fearing is awash in scam artists, Mafiosi, corruption, and murder.

Secondary characters include contract hit-men Mook and Redbear; Mafioso Tony "Two Chins" Petralia; con artists Silky Baron and James Calloway; Nurse Melba Jean Hurley; and rest home director Terrence Furlong.

GOODBYE, SHE LIED is a slick put-the-pieces together story. The who-dunnit is given to the reader quickly, and the focus is on Esbeth and Gardner picking up the clues and weaving them together. Esbeth is a slightly grumpy, eminently logical retired teacher. Gardner is a logical, practical, by-the-book scientist with a big heart that brings out the best in Esbeth. Highlights of the story include the colloquial Texas voice it is written in and the memorable, oddball characters that live, and pass through, the town of Fearing. A complicated and interwoven plot is deftly pulled together, and each villain is satisfyingly dealt with. GOODBYE, SHE LIED is a cozy Texas mystery that readers will enjoy.

Jennell