Fixing To Die by Elaine Viets is the ninth book in the “Jose Marcus, Mystery Shopper” mystery series. Publisher: Obsidian, November 2013

Mystery shopper Josie Marcus has been happily married to veterinarian Ted Scottsmeyer for months. But her newly wedded bliss is about to be cut short.

Josie and Ted have finally tied the knot, and they’re ready for the next step: buying a house. Ted’s business partner, Christine, has one she’s willing to sell, but it needs a lot of love. Luckily, the newlyweds are up for the challenge.

But when they tear down a rickety gazebo in the backyard, they find the body of Christine’s sister, a free spirit who supposedly took off six months before. The police arrest Christine for murder, leaving Ted to work overtime at the office to cover for his partner. With no time to work on the house or be with her husband, Josie will have to find the real killer quickly, before both her house and marriage are beyond repair.

Elaine has done it again by delivering a wonderfully crafted whodunit that was both enjoyable and entertaining. This terrific mystery kept me engage from beginning to end and I enjoyed following the clues along with Josie that led us closer to the killer’s identity. It was great watching Josie grow stronger with much confidence as a heroine. Boasting a solid storyline, great dialogue, a wonderful cast of characters that includes Ted and Amelia, and a nice comfortable tone, this is one of the best books in this fabulously excellent series.