I thoroughly enjoyed reading "The Lord Is My Shepherd" the first book in the Psalm 23 Mysteries by Debbie Viguie, and really looked forward to continuing on with the series with the next book "I Shall Not Want."
From Good Reads:
Charity work can be murder! It’s Thanksgiving and Joseph Tyler, one of the members of Cindy’s church, has organized a new charity that provides homeless people with rescue dogs to love and care for. But one by one, the homeless recipients are being murdered and their dogs stolen. Could an overly competitive millionaire with his prize-winning pooches and a grudge be behind the crimes? Or could it be someone much closer to Joseph who has something sinister to hide? Cindy and Jeremiah must rush to find a killer before he strikes again.
I totally looked forward to reading this second book in the series. The reader is again introduced to another mystery that Cindy has somehow stumbled upon. She is just that kind of unlucky. As the description states, church member, Joseph has started a charity where homeless people are given rescue dogs in an attempt to give them an opportunity to care about something and hopefully reconnect them to getting re-engaged in society. It is a wonderful cause until these recipients are being murdered and the dogs are being taken.
I could say that it is a little far fetched that Cindy has somehow gotten herself entangled in this mess, but truly that is what cozy series are about. Just like a soap opera, calamity follows the same people along like a shadow. I suspend belief when I read and know that this is not likely to happen to every church secretary, but then again, I do know some people whom trouble does follow.
It was nice seeing Cindy and Jeremiah interacting again although I do hope that the author doesn't try to push them together romantically. I also enjoy Mark the detective even though he can be a bit abrasive at times. Who wouldn't be a bit snarky when they are continually dealing with amateur detectives like Cindy and Jeremiah (although he is less abrasive about their involvement this time around).
If I had one complaint it wouldn't be about the different rules and regs I have see with the rabbi being out on a Friday and the like. I am highly under qualified to make any comment on that as I do not know the laws that people of the Jewish faith follow. I think that if the way the rabbi acts is wildly incorrect enough to toss a person out of the story, that is a shame, because I certainly hate when inaccuracies shove me out of a story. For me on this part, ignorance is bliss. I think I was more put off by Cindy's co-worker dressing way out there when she works at a church. I'm not a prude, but I work in a Christian ministry and typically dress codes do apply. You wont catch our staff members in fishnets and a mini. It may work with the character's personality but it wouldn't work at any church I have dropped by. However, I have never popped into a Presbyterian office...so what do I know really?
All in all, I enjoyed the pace of the story and could see where other characters could be involved in future stories. I liked again not knowing who the killer was from the get go. That is a rarity. It was also nice seeing several theories bounced around which all sounded legitimate. Nothing was obvious and everything was explored. The book stands well on its own, but does mention the first mystery so I would read that one first if you are planning on hitting the whole series.
I received this book for free through Nook download at Barnes & Noble.
