The Body in the Baptistry by Betty Pratt Barrett

Let me entice you...how about some farm-raised catfish fingerlings fried to golden perfection served with shoestring potatoes (fries to those not from the South), hushpuppies, a side of Napa salad and a tall glass of sweet iced tea. Not a fan of catfish? Well there is always a serving of barbecue ribs in a sweet tangy sauce of brown sugar, molasses, lemons, ketchup and mustard served with a side of Brunswick stew, coleslaw and white bread. Oh, and let's not forget the sweet iced tea and lemon pie for dessert. Too much? Ok, how about a coca-cola and a pack of peanut butter crackers?

True to Southern tradition, whether you are a bigamist, a loan shark, murderer or a member of a library board bent on blackmail, there is a wonderful meal or snack just fit to accompany the gossip that comes with so much going on in the small town of Wild Crabapple, Alabama. Who in the world would ever dream such a quiet little hamlet could contain such a wild variety of crime?

Well, Mrs. Betty Barrett has released a wonderful "cozy" mystery entitled The Body in the Baptistry that contains so many plot twists and turns that you'll need "a coca-cola and two tylenol" before the adventure ends! Betty is a wonderful lady and someone who has become a dear friend to me. She has lived all over the world as a pastor's wife and English professor and most of that time has been spent in the deep South. She currently serves as the Branch Manager of the LaFayette Pilot Public Library, and her observation of human nature is delightfully combined with Southern tradition and local color to create a truly fun read! The characters are an eclectic group from a wide variety of backgrounds who are very adept at using the local grapevine to learn all that goes on behind the scenes in their small town. Finding the song-director's body in the baptistry of the local church is literally the tip of the iceberg in this wonderful book!

As a matter of fact, there are so many layers of secrets to uncover you'll need an entire pitcher of sweet iced tea to make it through...or how about a hot cup of Earl Gray with a slice of chess pie to help you figure things out? The Body in the Baptistry is a must read for cozy mystery fans! Delightful, Mrs. Betty!