Book Review: Let's Fake a Deal by Sherry Harris (Sarah Harris Garage Sale Mysteries #7

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Strong mysteries and characters as always

Cons: I’ve finished the book already

The Bottom Line:

Selling stolen goods

While friend is framed for murder

Fast paced, fun cozy

My Enthusiasm for This Book Is Not Fake

I have quickly come to learn what to expect when I pick up a book from Sherry Harris.  Each book delivers an excellent mystery filled with strong characters.  So I was excited when I sat down to read Let’s Fake a Deal.

The book opens with the ultimate disaster for Sarah Winston.  She’s just opened her latest garage sale when the police show up.  It turns out that the items for sale are all stolen.  Sarah frantically tries to find the couple who she is working for, but they have slipped away, and Sarah finds herself arrested for trying to sell stolen goods.

That night, Sarah meets her friend Michelle at a local bar.  Michelle is stationed at the nearby Air Force base and was in line for a promotion until she got an anonymous discrimination complaint filed against her.  Some of the men Michelle suspects are behind the complaint are in the bar and is takes everything Sarah has to keep Michelle from falling for their bait that night.  The next morning, one of those men is dead in Michelle’s car.  Sarah knows something strange is going on since Michelle wouldn’t have resorted to murder.  Can she prove her friend’s innocence and clear herself at the same time?

Many of the previous books in the series have had the main mystery and a pretty strong sub-plot.  This time around, both mysteries Sarah is facing feel like a main mystery.  Sherry Harris expertly balances both of these stories, giving us clues to what is really happening in both without confusing us in the slightest.

And, with two strong mysteries, I was pulled into the book more than normal.  The pages in this series always fly by all too quickly, and this book was no exception.  It’s the eternal struggle, I want to savor a book I’m enjoying, but I have to know what is going to happen next.  When I did reach the climax, I was satisfied with how everything was wrapped up.

One reason I love this series is the characters.  Sarah leads a fun cast, and I always enjoy spending time with them.  I’m especially enjoying getting to know her brother, Luke, better.

I’ve also always enjoyed how these books highlight different struggles of military life.  This one is certainly one that will infuriate you, yet the book never forgets that it is a mystery novel first and uses the issue of how women in the military are treated as a great backdrop to that case.

Now that I’ve finished Let’s Fake a Deal, I do have one major disappointment.  I have to wait until the next book comes out to spend more time with Sarah.  If you love this series, you will be satisfied with this book.  And if you haven’t started this excellent series yet, I highly recommend you do so immediately.

Need more?  Here are the rest of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mysteries.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.