The Alpine Advocate | Mary Daheim

Title: The Alpine Advocate
Author: Mary Daheim

While it is an interesting start to a long-running series, The Alpine Advocate is a bit of a mixed bag. The strongest element is Emma Lord herself; as the owner of the town's weekly newspaper, her involvement in the investigation feels more organic than the typical cozy mystery protagonist who just happens to stumble over a body. Having Chris Ramirez--the estranged grandson of the wealthy Neeny Doukas--staying at her house provides a solid personal stake when Chris's cousin Mark is murdered and Chris becomes the prime suspect.

The small-town atmosphere is captured accurately, particularly the suffocating web of local genealogy. Emma has only lived in Alpine for four years, and her comment about needing a family tree just to navigate a social gathering will ring true for anyone who has lived in a tight-knit community.

However, the pacing and the sheer volume of "unfinished business" within the Doukas family can feel a bit cluttered. Between the fresh murders the the dredging up of an old missing persons report, the narrative occasionally gets bogged down in the secrets of the local elite. It is a likable enough debut with a "motley crew" of supporting staff that shows potential, but it doesn't quite break out of the standard genre tropes. 

3 out of 5 stars.

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