SLEEP LIKE A BABY

Sleep Like A Baby is the tenth novel in the Aurora Teagarden series by American author, Charlaine Harris. New mom of baby Sophie, Roe has the 'flu when Robin goes off to a conference to be presented with an award. Because Aida and John are also away, Robin and Roe enlist help to look after Sophie. But in the small hours of Sunday morning, Roe wakes to a crying baby, an absent helper and, on searching, a dead body in the backyard. Roe's not operating on all cylinders in this episode, but still manages to figure it all out in the end. This instalment has plenty of twists, turns and a red herring or two; three separate but intertwined stories, as well as incidental side tales that add wrinkles. Roe's young half-brother, Phillip shows great maturity when needed; some acquaintances surprise pleasantly, others less so. There are dogs and a puzzling theft and things going missing; a shootout in a hospital carpark; both Robin and Roe holding back information to prevent the other from worrying; and the killer will be a complete surprise to most readers. Enjoyable, as always.