Mysteries Galore.com

Reviewed by Teri Davis

Most churches are not crime scenes. It’s just that most of us are not comfortable with our church being the center of an investigation, especially a suspicious death. Something just seems wrong about any crime in a place of holiness, sanctity and forgiveness.

For organist, Hayden Konig, being a part of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church is part of his life, just like having a gun in the organ bench. Hayden has always idolized the legendary writing style of Raymond Chandler and even actually using Chandler’s Underwood typewriter in the hopes of replicating that definitive style of the hard-boiled detective embraced in similes. Hayden is also the police chief in this quiet village of St. Germaine, North Carolin.

However, this quiet, secluded, town’s church seems to be a place that is related to numerous crimes. Why else would he need the gun?

In towns like St. Germaine, everyone knows everyone and everything. There are no secrets in this town. When there is a crime, someone will know something that will assist in solving the crime. All you need to do is to ask the right questions and give some time for the right people to respond.

With The Treble Wore Trouble, the eleventh book in The Liturgical Mystery series by Mark Schweizer, refreshes many of the characters and relationships from his previous ten novels. This is a great way to allow new readers to jump into this series without having read the previous books while refreshing those who loyally read these books.

The Treble Wore Trouble is entertaining reading. The story is easy to follow with nothing inappropriate but still having crimes that need to be solved. The characters are well-described and logical in their actions. Even with a hard-boiled detective mystery novel embedded with an abundance of similes within the story, this is still an enjoyable, down-home, Sheriff Andy Griffith type of life in the South.

The Treble Wore Trouble is a laughable diversion from the heat this summer and is delightful to read.