February 27, 1995
Down-home mores and country humor inform this ebullient debut. Boston computer programmer Laura and her husband, Richard, visit Byerly, N.C., to see Laura's Aunt Ruby Lee remarry Roger, a country musician. The young people arrive in the midst of a family brouhaha centering around Ruby Lee and Roger's teenage daughter, Ilene, who has announced her plan to enter the novice-performer contest at the Rocky Shoals Memorial Country Music Jamboree, much against Roger's wishes. Ilene is also keeping company with Tom Honeywell, the local behavior problem. Later, after Roger makes a scene during her performance, Ilene argues with Tom and runs away. When Tom's body is discovered on the bus belonging to Roger and his band, Ilene is arrested for the murder, and the family prevails upon levelheaded Laura to prove the girl's innocence. With stalwart, Shakespeare-quoting Richard in tow, Laura delves into Tom's past to come up with the killer. A lively, lighthearted cozy.