Still as Death by Sarah Stewat Taylor

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

This fourth installment in the Sweeney St. George mystery series finds Sweeney getting ready to open her exhibition on funerary art at Boston's Hapner Museum of Art. While putting together her exhibtion, Sweeney, an art historian, discovers paperwork for a piece of Egyptian jewlery that she desires. However, no one can find the jewelry. Meanwhile, Sweeney learns of a robbery that took place in the museum in 1979, which sheds some light on the jewlery's disappearance.

On opening night of the exhibition, tragedy strikes when one of the museum's staff members is found murdered in the museum's basement. Sweeney feels there is a connection between the present day murder and the robbery from 1979. With the help of her friend Detective Timothy Quinn, she tries to find the answers before someone else gets hurt. Mystery, lies, cover-ups and romance bring together a mystery that is enjoyable.

Those who love to read about art and art history will enjoy this mystery series. A former co-worker recommended the first in this series, O' Artful Death, a few years ago, and I absolutely loved it. To me, the plot lines are rich and unique with twists that combine past crimes/situations with contemporary or modern day happenings. A main character who works with funerary art seems so original and yet so fitting for a mystery. Readers will find that Sweeney has a very complicated life: she is the daughter of a famous artist who committed suicide when she was young; Her fiance was killed a few years ago in a terrorist attack in London; and, her current boyfriend wants her to move to London with him, though she has feelings for her friend Detective Quinn. Taylor combines all of these to make a character who generates sympathy and interest.

For those who like very unique characters, I would also recommend the genealogical series by Fiona Mountain, the fist titled Pale as the Dead. Set in England, this series follows Natasha Blake, a genealogist, as she solves genealogical mysteries and mysteries of modern day. Again, Mountain ties a modern day problem/mystery with a mystery of the past. Anyone who likes Sarah Stewart Taylor's series should try Fiona Mountain's genealogical series.

Reviewed by Jessica