Degrees of Affection

*5 Stars*

*The Gush*

I love this series. Since my sister introduced me to it, I've read these books at least 3 times. I have to say, I prefer these to her more well known Sookie Stackhouse books; the mysteries are better and the characters and setting are not overshadowed by the supernatural plot elements. It has always saddened me there are only 5 of these.

Characters: 

The main character is Lily Bard, a young woman who has left a life and burden back in Memphis to come to this quiet town, live her life, and clean other people's houses. She is a hard woman, a scarred woman, but still has come to care for many of the people in the town. When she finds a local owner and manager of an apartment complex, she is drug into the investigation despite herself. During the course of the book, she is drug out of her self-imposed exile despite herself and begins to truly become a part of the town. There are many people populating the town, each with their own distinct characteristics and their own secrets. We are introduced to many of them; some we love and some we don't. One of Harris' real talents is the fact that her characters are so real. They are always a joy to meet.

Plot:

The landlord's death sets off a series of events that bring about not only Lily's drawing closer to the town but also the discovery by some of her shameful secret and her using what she knows best to solve the mystery. Well thought out, the mystery is one of the tightest and well laid out I've seen in a while. Everything is there for one to see, but there are a lot of red herrings as well. A masterful creation.

Writing:

Say one thing for Charlaine Harris, she can write. While I find most of the mysteries in the Sookie Stackhouse series...bland, I still enjoy reading them while they are in my hands. She can pack a lot in a little over 200 pages; building believable and real characters, creating a town, history, mystery, and more. The book flows well, to the point where you can pick the book up, finish it, and never notice the time.

*The Rant*

My major rant of the series is that I wish there were more. Surprisingly, despite dealing with some rather harsh and terrible things, I am not unhappy with her choice to deal with things like that. She talks about some very harsh things, but she deals with them delicately and with a surprising amount of respect.

*Conclusion*

If you love mysteries, particularly ones set in the South, I'd definitely suggest picking this up. If you've only read her 'True Blood' series, I strongly recommend picking this up, as I think it's the better of the two.