Died on the Vine by Joyce Harmon follows Cissy Rayborn, tech writer and ammateur mystery sleuth, and her retired husband Jack. The two cross paths with Obadiah Winslow, and he informs Cissy that Jimmy, her first husband who was supposedly shot down and killed in Vietnam, actually survived the crash and is still alive and currently being held prisoner in a Vietnamese prison. Cissy begins to wonder if he is telling the truth, but before she really even has a chance to question him further, she finds him dead on their property, stabbed by pruning shears. Who could of possibly done it? Could it be her current husband Jack in hopes of silencing the truth? Or, was it someone else? What will Cissy do and what will she believe?
I haven’t read a ton of mystery novels in my lifetime, but I was pretty excited when I read the synopsis for Joyce Harmon’s book. The book was light and fun, and the mystery added a fun suspenseful twist to the plot. I really enjoyed the characters and really enjoyed the dynamic between Cissy, Julie, and Mary and thought they added a lot of spunk to the novel. Overall, very enjoyable. I was entertained throughout and surprised by the suspenseful ending. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light hearted mystery with some heart.
[Rating: 4/5]
