I have the first book on my shelf and just re-noticed it and was thinking I need to read it. I'm glad this one lived up mostly to the first book. I definitely need to start this series.

These two books are new to me, but it strikes me that the series is shaping up like a lot of the ones I've read in the past. Lots of times, it seems, the first book is more about the crime or mystery than the central character and supporting cast. But usually, that first book gives a real sense of place and the times if it is going to work. Then, in the second book, the author seems to spend more time on the main character's backstory...and we slowly get hooked more on the character than on the mystery itself. And then, by the third book, we are starting to feel like the central character is akin to an old friend we are catching up with after an absence of several months. Well...that's how it works with me, anyway.

I have Death in the Family sitting in my stack of library books right now and am looking forward to reading it. (Which means I didn't read your review of this second book too closely.)

I often find that second books in a series are not successful as the others, but I am not sure why.

I enjoyed Death in the Family so I'm definitely putting this onto my wishlist!