Book Review: Hang 'Em High by Tristi Pinkston

When Ida Mae Babbitt receives an invitation to visit her son Keith¹s dude ranch in Montana, she¹s excited to mend their broken relationship, but not so excited about spending time with cows. Arlette and Tansy go along with her, ready to take a vacation that does not involve dead bodies or mysteries of any sort - one must have a break from time to time. But it seems a no-good scoundrel has moseyed into Dodge City and is bent on causing all sorts of trouble for the ranch. Unable to keep her curiosity in check - especially when it seems her own son is the most likely culprit - Ida Mae decides to investigate. Can she lasso the varmint and get him to the sheriff in time?

Hang 'Em High by Tristi Pinkston is a cozy mystery.   It is only recently that I even learned what a cozy mystery is.
From cozy-mystery.com

• The crime-solver in a cozy mystery is usually a woman who is an amateur sleuth.
• The cozy mystery usually takes place in a small town or village.
• In a series, it is important that the characters are likable, so that the reader will want to visit them again.
• Cozy mysteries are considered “gentle” books… no graphic violence, no profanity, and no explicit sex.
• Cozy mysteries tend to be fast-paced, with several twists and turns throughout each book.
• The cozy mystery puts an emphasis on plots and character development.

Hang 'Em High is most definitely a cozy mystery. A really good one!

• Ida Mae is our amateur sleuth who with the help from her friends solves the crimes.
• Small town setting? Yep! Omni, Utah is the small town setting for the first books in the series, Hang 'Em High takes us to a dude ranch in Montana.
• The characters are likable, quirky and humorous which makes me want to visit them again, can't wait for the next book in the series.
• Totally "gentle" - no swearing, sex or graphic violence.
• A very fast-paced, quick read with enough twists and turns to keep me guessing until the end.
• The Secret Sisters Series is character driven - it's the likable characters that bring me back to the series.

Hang 'Em High has been my favorite of the series. It's a quick, easy read that made me smile.

There are currently 3 books in the Secret Sisters Series
Secret Sisters


Dearly Departed


Hang 'Em High


Coming Soon...
Targets in Ties (Nov. 2011)
Tell Death Do Us Part (May 2012)

Rating: 4.5 Stars - Highly Recommend

Source: From Author for Review

Content: Clean

Giveaway:  Manuscript Evaluation
To celebrate this book's release and blog tour, you are invited to participate in a contest! If you leave a comment on this review, you will be entered to win a manuscript evaluation done by Tristi, up to a $75.00 value. Horror and erotica excluded.  If you aren't a writer, you can give the evaluation to a writer friend as a gift. The winner will be chosen at midnight, October 5th MST so leave a comment ASAP! For more chances to win you can visit Tristi's site to leave a comment on the other participating blogs as well - http://www.tristipinkston.blogspot.com/