Back to the Burgh and Beyond

Breaking up is hard to do except when it is beneficial. Not all divorces are ugly some yield benefits that will surprise someone while others become victims of cruel ex-spouses. Alexa Owl divorced Dennis and moved to another town and was astounded by what he did for her. Hiring architects, interior designer and arranging for everything she needed to set up her new couturier shoppe, Alexa was spellbound when she saw her new space. Little did she know that she would never really be alone as a ghost cat named Garbo would be a frequent visitor, but you will not believe why.

A noise catches her attention and then someone seems to show up out of nowhere. Call her Winnie and she seems to know everything about her new space , brought the refreshments and they formed a bond. But someone else was there and from this point on Alexa’s life would take an unusual turn. Winnie was going to work for her and the promo firm she hired booked clients. But the employment firm did not come through. A seamstress, assistant and a bookkeeper were needed but first meet the other star of this book Bobby Starr a detective from another realm who returned to earth ordered by Saint Pete to solve some cold case murders he left behind. You see he is a detective, a ghost and if Alexa goes back in tone to find out along with him who killed his second wife’s, Cora he might get into the Guardian Angel Squad. After listening to Bobby and learning more about what happened to Cora, Alexa deals with two clients first and then travels back to 1953 and using her common sense and questioning skills she begins to help Bobby devise a plan. But remember no cell phones, laptops or even DNA tests to go by. This is old fashioned detective work and dangerous. 

Author C.S.McDonald takes us back to the 1950’s where times and area’s different and Alexa enters Bobby’s apartment which is now hers in the present and the differences are remarkable. But Garbo is there. 

Flashing back to the past Alexa is determined to learn more about Cora Lee and she finds herself in the local bar where Winnie’s parents are. Her father owns it and is the bartender. Molly his wife shows up and is concerned about their daughter Ellie who is about according to them to marry someone they do not approve of. Learning that Cora Lee was strangled and find dead in the back of the pub leads to many unanswered questions. But in a flash she is sent back to the present and reflects on what she learned including that another girl was murdered and using her laptop she uncovers information about the murder of Louise Kingsley. Learning she was an usher in a theater and found dead in back she also learns that both Cora Lee and Louise were missing a special ring not found on their finger at the time of their deaths. 

In the present when she is flashed forward she meets her salesgirl who is a disaster and learns how well she handled her new clients. 

Back to the past she and Bobby are going to question friends of Louise but not before author C.  C.S.McDonald creates a humorous scene in the local pup and we meet wife number 3 who’s warning to Alexa about Bobby and her response is priceless. 

Alexa was determined to solve the case and a reporter named Howell fingered the handyman who someone said was the killer. But lies , deceptions , betrayals and leading a double life in two timelines took skill and wear and tear on Alexa. Added in detective Slater in both timelines will the one in 1953 figure out what Alexa uncovered, and will she be arrested in the past for what she did? The final scenes in the past make you wonder how people solved cases without the use of modern technology and imagine the expression on Alexa’s face when she heard that people actually had to use a party line and share their phone with other people. The past at times brings back memories but when she meets Ellie and learns about how she was disowned what will happen in the present when she tells Winnie about meeting her parents and family in the past? 

As the real killer is revealed and Alexa is in danger where is Bobby to watch her back? Fast thinking, smart and a killer who came up against the wrong person author C.S.McDonald throws us and the killer a serious twist, surprise and ending. But is it the end ? After all Bobby has several more unsolved cases and where is Garbo ? What next for Alexa and where will the author send her if she unwinds from 1953? Back to the Burgh and Beyond is a humorous heartfelt cozy murder mystery that will endear you to Alexa and let you know which one of the author’s sleuths will be at the top of her mark next time? FIONA VS ALEXA? 

Fran lewis just reviews