"Hung Out To Die"

"Hung Out To Die" is Sharon Short's 4th novel in her Stain Busting Mystery Series featuring Josie Toadfern.

Josie is relatively well adjusted given her father abandoned her and her mother when she was a toddler then her mother left town leaving her in the care of a couple she trusted.  However, when he died, and the widow decided to move to another state to be near family, Josie was placed in the local orphanage.  Fortunately, her mother's brother and his wife took her out of the orphanage and raised her with their son Guy, who is autistic.  Although her aunt and uncle have died and she inherited their laundry business, she has developed her own close family of friends in her small town.  She's also the guardian for her cousin, Guy, who lives in a facility nearby that does a fantastic job of helping autistic adults (who are unable to mainstream) to find and use their gifts in an institutional setting.

Josie's paternal grandmother has ignored Josie her entire life so when her close friend and cousin, Sally, says her grandmother insists Josie come for Thanksgiving dinner, Josie reluctantly accepts the invitation.  Her boyfriend, Owen, is out of town visiting his son and other friends have their own plans.  What a surprise when both her parents show up together at the family Thanksgiving dinner in a sports car and looking very financially secure.  However, when they announce plans to turn the old orphanage into a Flea Market, the idea doesn't sit well with many people but particularly the local antique dealers.

Josie's uncle Fenwick (her father's twin brother) and her father have a heated argument at dinner then go for a walk together after dinner while her Aunt naps and her mother takes off for a couple of hours in the car.  When Josie and a friend discover her uncle's body in the woods, her father is arrested on suspicion of murder and her mother moves in with Josie.  Josie's mother, May, expects Josie to find the real killer and get her dad out of jail.

The local newspaper editor is looking to make a name for himself (and also might be hoping her boyfriend decides not to return) and joins forces with Josie to track down a murderer.  The result -- several lives are thrust into the path of danger and more deaths occur before the mystery is solved satisfactorily (at least to Josie and her parents' satisfaction).  pazt