Plotting At The PTA by Laura Alden is the third book in the “PTA” mystery series. Publisher: Obsidian, July 2012

Good thing Beth Kennedy likes to multi-task. As a PTA secretary, children’s bookstore owner, and single mom, Beth has to work hard to schedule time for sleuthing.

Beth is excited about the spring PTA project—the Senior Story Session, which pairs elderly residents of Sunny Rest Assisted Living with Tarver Elementary students to produce a book that the PTA can sell as a fundraiser.

But her enthusiasm is dampened when she discovers one of her regular customers at the bookstore, Amy Jacobson, has died from bee stings. What are bees doing out so unseasonably early in Wisconsin—and why wouldn’t Amy, who was deathly allergic, have taken greater care to avoid them?

Now it’s up to Beth to get the buzz on who used killer bees to send Amy Jacobson to her eternal rest.

Knowing her good friend and learning about her death, Beth suspects that there is more to her death, so Beth sets out to see if she can learn more surrounding the days before her friend’s untimely death. Meanwhile one of the seniors, hearing about Beth’s exploits in solving murders, wants her to investigate a 20-year old death. As Beth pursues both cases, her search for answers becomes more urgent.

This was a good read in this lighthearted and charming whodunit. The writing is crisp, the flow is evenly paced and I like the way the story progressed and kept me guessing as to how this drama would end. It’s all about the relationship in this character-driven tale and I especially love the comedic tone that is found throughout this story. This was very enjoyable and I look forward to the next book in this wonderful series.