This one was pasted very nicely. I really liked how the mystery warm down to the end. That was book review. ( )

Mark Schweizer is a Southern-fried Garrison Keillor, with his knowledgeable references to smallish church choirs and heightened denominational differences in small towns. Good example: "We're Episcopalians.. We have things to do," in defense of sermons limited to 15 minutes, and "as noticeable as a tattoo on a Lutheran," in this one. The image of the visiting organist (named Edna Terra-Pocks) needing a sports bra to play a particularly active toccata gave me a good laugh. You need a certain sense of humor, and maybe some background in church choir, to enjoy these books. I'm glad to have found them. ( )

I continue to love Schweizer's books. In this book the season is Christmas and so the story revolves around all the pageantry that any church or small community creates. There are songs to be chosen and practiced, sermons to be given, lights and decorations to be put up a parade to either watch or be a participant. Hayden and returning pastor Gaylen are involved in a car accident that puts a different twist on the whole thing. This story is more chaotic than some of the others but a lot of fun and I had no idea "who dunnit".

Looking forward to reading more in the series, I'm still a few stories behind.

The 8th in the Hayden Konig mystery series. It is Christmas time in St. Germaine and the town is getting ready for the annual parade. Meanwhile Hayden is at an estate auction and bids on bottles of wine. Bud, the teen wine expert, keeps signaling Hayden to bid higher as another man keeps overbidding Hayden. After Hayden’s successful bid, Bud informs him that in a few years the wine will be worth over a quarter of a million dollars. The stranger who had been bidding on the wine is soon found dead. As usual, Schweizer peppers his hysterical series with Hayden’s horrible attempt at writing a murder mystery in the fashion of his hero, Raymond Chandler. Add a protest, a pregnant waitress, a temporary organist and an obnoxious deacon and you have one heckova fun read. ( )

A quirky mystery. The small town of St. Germaine has some pretty interesting characters living there. The main character Hayden Konig is the town's police chief and organist for the Episcopal Church. He dreams of becoming a mystery writer but he's pretty awful at it. Luckily, the choir is somewhat appreciated of his efforts. With everything he has going on, invariably someone has the nerve to get murdered in this small town and Hayden and his crew have to solve the real mystery.

I really enjoy the series. Each of the books has a lot of humor in them. ( )