The Devil's Hook (Emory Crawford Mysteries Book #2) by Pearl R. Meaker

Life is getting strange in Twombly, Illinois.

Jairus Twombly's familial intuition is faltering and his new personal assistant seems to be trying to replace his wife, Amy.

On the Twombly College campus, someone is breaking into the dorm rooms of female students leaving things instead of taking things: red colored objects including a red golf ball, a red ribbon and a tiny red stuffed dog.

When a recipient of some of the red objects goes missing and is returned after being told, "You're not her", and the personal assistant turns up dead with Amy Twombly's elegant Bloodwood crochet hook in her eye, things heat up for Emory Crawford and her chemist and forensic scientist husband, Dr. Jebbin Crawford.

Emory, along with the Twombly's Nancy Drew-like daughter, Madison, once more turns to her amateur detective skills and intuition to solve the mysteries.  (Summary via Goodreads)



I am totally hooked on the Emory Crawford Mystery series.  And I am not just saying it that way because of the title of Book Two, The Devil's Hook.

In The Devil's Music, Book One in the series, you get to know Emory, the people closest to her, what she is about and you see some of the college that is her home.  But in The Devil's Hook you begin to understand what is so special about Emory and the people around her.  

In The Devil's Hook not only is there a case of someone breaking into female dorms and leaving red colored items but the personal assistant of the President of the college ends up murdered.  No one likes Amy Twombly but when she is arrested for the murder, Emory feels very strongly that she is innocent,  But with only 5 people in the house at the time of the murder, Amy is the only one with motive to want the assistant gone......or is she ?

Emory along with Madison, daughter of the accused, do some investigating of their own to try to clear Amy's name.  

Can Emory find out who is behind the red colored items ?  Can she prove Amy is innocent ?  Does she have the "gift" or is it just plain luck that she gets things right ??

As with all reviews, I could go on and on tell you more and more but then there is no reason for you to want to read this series.  And I want to encourage you to read these books.  Not only are the characters lovable and the setting enjoyable but you will get completely hooked !!!

Review by Missi S.