TRAITOROUS TOYS MILDRED ABBOTT

I was happy to see the notification that one of my favorite COZY CORGI mysteries was available in an audio version. I have come to love Angie Hickman’s voice as the right combination of humor, caution, and conviction in Winifred Page. Somehow, Angie also seems to have the perfect affinity to observe for Fred’s beloved Corgi Watson as she gently teases him and his sweet grumpiness.

Despite the story being set in the weeks before Christmas in snowy Estes Park, Colorado, Angie sets the right tone and it is winter again. As much as I loved the first mystery, CRUEL CANDY; TRAITOROUS TOYS is even more engaging, with a deeper mystery and a surprise ‘solver.’

Further insights are given about the other Estes Park shop-keepers, Fred’s colorful, gossipy uncles, the movie star handsome police Sargent, the young and seemingly adoring park ranger, the earnest and lonely pet store owner, the dismissive Officer Green, and Fred’s baker friend Katie, who is intent on sharing the carby goodness she makes with Fred and Watson.

Winifred (Fred) Price and her Corgi Watson, who holds a lot of Corgi attitude are finally, after a bit of renovation beginning to stock the Cozy Corgi, Fred’s bookstore. A series of miss-directed mail, crazy LED Christmas lights, and glimpses of marital infidelity, create a mystery with Fred a part of all the elements. When Katie is falsely accused of attempted murder, Fred unpacks mountains of books with one hand and begins to solve the mystery with the other. Days from Christmas, Fred is faced with her past and her present intermingling in the holiday season as she finds herself busy with the bookstore opening and facing personal reminders of the life she promised to push the Restart Button on.

Angie lets Mildred Abbott’s fans gratefully sink into the snowy mountains, listen to tires crunch on the snow, and view a warm (if gossipy) vision of small town life. This is a must-not-miss-audio book to add to your library as Mildred Abbott’s fans wait for her next book.