Picking Lemons: A C.J. Whitmore Mystery
Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Cozy Cat Press (October 2, 2013)
Paperback: 194 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1939816221
E-Book File Size: 1384 KB
ASIN: B00GF4ZZA0

Synopsis

Economic theories can predict many things – just not the death of a renowned Economics professor. When Professor Edmund DeBeyer is found dead in his office, strangled to death by his own Ph.D. hood, the police don’t have to look further than his colleagues in the Economics Department for suspects. After all, Edmund was the most despised member of the department. C.J. Whitmore, the department’s only tenured female, (who also has a penchant for wearing pink cowboy boots to class) resolves to get to the bottom of the mystery using economic principles. Comparing tracking down murder suspects to to selecting a used car, she attempts to discern the real deals from the “lemons.” That is, which suspects are really telling the truth and which are lying to protect their guilt. Will C.J. be able to pick the lemon before her clever adversary strikes again?

Review

Interesting premise for a new series….set in an Economics department at a prestigious university. CJ is a wise cracking Texan that once she was given her tenure reverted to her real self, after all economics is not known to be a “fun” field.  I love that she walks around in pink cowboy boots and throws out southern euphemisms at every turn.  The book is fairly fast paced and spans a week. I thought it was interesting how each chapter was a day of the week.

As CJ is revealing the killer at the end it came to me “whodoneit” but until that point I had no idea.  I was hoping for one person, but no such luck!  He is just a slimeball.

I also like how they used economic theory/model to come up with the title of the book. I’ll admit to Econ being part of my major in college but I sure don’t remember much of it!

We give this book 4 paws and can’t wait to see what the author has in store next for us and CJ.

About This Author

J.T. Toman lives in Boulder, Colorado. She received her Ph.D. in economics from Yale University and has taught econometrics at the University of Sydney and the University of Colorado at Boulder. She also has a degree in zookeeping from Pikes Peak Community College and has cared for everything from butterflies to elephants. She now teaches math at Front Range Community College, and truly believes fractions are useful in everyday life.

In her spare time, J.T. Toman joins the rest of Colorado hiking, biking and skiing. However, much like her cats, she finds food more inspiring than scenery. J.T. particularly loves home- grown tomatoes, udon noodles and tall glasses of chocolate milk, but not at the same time.

Picking Lemons is her first novel.

Author Webpage

Tour Participants

January 26 – Kelly P’s Blog – Interview
January 27 – Queen of All She Reads – Review
January 28 – Books-n-Kisses – Review
January 29 – readalot blog – Review
January 29 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review
January 30 – Book Club Librarian – Review
January 31 – Books Are Life – Vita Libri – Review
February 1 – rantin’ ravin’ and reading – Review – Interview