Spring has finally sprung in Wings Fall, New York and Samantha Davies-Johnson along with her fellow rug hookers, the Loopy Ladies, are participating in an annual reenactment at a local pre- Revolutionary War fort, Fort Henry, as camp followers. The Loopy Ladies instead of rug hooking are doing their patriot duty and are knitting hats for veterans. A number of their significant others are among the reenactors and will be recreating the battle between the French and the British. Sam's newish husband, Hank, who is the lead detective on the Wings Falls Police and her Southern Belle cousin, Candie Parker-Hogan's husband, Mark, the Mayor of Wings Falls, are newly minted reenactor soldiers participating in the event. All seems to be going well until Orville Garber and Wesley Munro get into a heated argument as to who should fill the recently vacated commander of their unit, a prized position. Wesley feels it should go to him since he is descended from the original commander of the fort. Sam has her hopes on Orville getting the honor as he was her much-loved high school math teacher.
As the day progresses, a mock battle is held. After all the musket smoke clears, a French reenactor is found dead on the battlefield. Only gunpowder charges were to be used at these events. Who used a real musket ball and why? Unfortunately for Orville, the musket ball is traced back to him by the three slashes he etches into his musket balls identify it as his. Samantha can't believe the kind and patient man who helped her all those years ago to pass math would do such a thing.
To add to Samantha's stress, her beloved dachshund, Porkchop, is behaving in a very unwelcoming manner towards his girlfriend, Nina, Hank's miniature bulldog. Can Sam figure out what has caused Porkchop's change of affection towards his BFF before any fur flies and at the same time prove Orville innocent before the real murderer targets her? (Summary via Goodreads)
I could live in Wings Falls, I would totally fit in immediately. If only it were a real place and not the setting of the Samantha Davies Mystery series written by S.A. Kazlo. And with Muskets, Mutts, and Murder being the eighth book, I'm pretty sure I would know my way around this delightful town .... and I would try to stay clear of the murders and the investigations but with Sam and her cousin Candie being my best friends, I can't promise that.
In Muskets, Mutts, and Murder Sam and Candie are hanging around with their Loopy Ladies group knitting hats to go to local veterans while their husbands, lead detective of Wings Falls Police Department, Hank and the town Mayor, Mark, participate in an re-enactment at the local British fort. They think the re-enactment of the French and British battle goes well until one of the participant's is laying on the ground when the smoke clears.
Even though the talk around the incident is that the gentlemen suffered an ankle injury, Sam knows that to be incorrect when the coroner arrives.
Sam also knows that even though she is married to the lead detective, there will be no secrets spilled during pillow talk so when her old math teacher is arrested for the murder, her and Candie will do what they can to fill in the blanks.
I cannot stress it enough how awesome this series is. Not only will readers fall in love with Wings Falls and the businesses, but the people are a huge part of it as well. Just hanging out with Sam and Candie at their favorite table at Sweetie Pie's or all of them at The Smiling Pig would be a treat. And even though I am more of a cat person, I would love cuddles with Sam's dog,Porkchop, Hank's dog, Nina and Candie's dog, Annie. And who couldn't listen to Candie's southern talk all day ?
