Painted Lady by Peter Abresch

I began my A to Z mystery journey by reading "Painted Lady" by Peter Abresch which is self titled "an elderhostel mystery." This is a series with lead character James P. Dandy who takes elderhostel trips and solves murders along the way. Ironically, the story begins in a hotel that is hosting an annual Bouchercon which is the largest convention of mystery readers and authors in the world. So it seemed fitting to begin here. Jim Dandy and his lady love Dodie Swisher are preparing to attend an elderhostel trip that will take them to the Santa Fe Trail. They almost immediately witness the death of a local shaman or medicine woman who falls from a hotel roof. Ths story continues from there with many twists and turns. The author puts in a whole host of characters that they meet on the trip for many red herrings. Abresch also gives a flavor of what one might experience in taking an elderhostel program. If you want to know more about elderhostel programs nationally and world wide, it is now called Exploritas. This is a light enjoyable series. I like an author who writes a good story but also gives you things to learn about and experience. I would definitely read more of these books. The character names are a little cornball, but the story is strong enough to get over that part. The author seems to have researched his background well and the book held my interest throughout. As I will share in the future, I am terrible at figuring out 'whodunit.'
I hope you all will check out Peter Abresch as a mystery series author. I found that CWMARS.ORG in MA and Bibliomation in CT both carry these books, so go to your local library and check one out or order through interlibrary loan. Thanks for reading!
Sue