Murder Leads to Marriage
Rosie and Lilly Hurley were out for an evening walk in the woods with their dogs near the town vet’s office when they see Dr. Ren inspecting a dead woman’s body. The woman turned out to be Skylar Smith, the same Skylar who had threatened their sister Daisy just eight weeks earlier. Soon after, their sister Amy, now a student in law school, is anonymously called out for cheating on an exam and her car is vandalized.
Shannon Peeples’ thriller, Murder Leads to Marriage, is a mystery laced with romantic undertones. Throughout the book, each sister becomes a target in a web of suspicion, fear, and betrayal. The novel moves briskly as we get a close look at each of the sisters, but the central character is Rosie Hurley.
Rosie had a New York experience that changed her life, and unbeknownst to her, created a cancerous hate that would affect her entire family.
The strength of the book revolves around the Hurley family bond with their loyalty to each other, secrets, and emotional scars all add weight to the mystery. Who is behind the threats and why?
With multiple revelations throughout the book, Peeples weaves in romance and interpersonal drama adding a satisfying layer to the novel. She also uses multiple perspectives among the sisters helping to diversify voice, though at times the transitions felt abrupt. However, the book’s strengths—engaging characters, sharp twists and turns—make it worth the read.
About the Author
Shannon Peeples started her career as a coronary care nurse in Kansas City, Missouri. Knowing that she always wanted to be a lawyer, she went to law school at the young age of 45 and worked at the firm of Shook, Hardy, and Bacon. Shannon has four wonderful children and five perfect grandchildren. She lives in San Antonio with her husband Keith and Hudson, her 200 pound Great Dane.
Great. I like a novel with lots of twists and turns.