Murder of a Barbie and Ken (Scumble River Mystery #5) Denise Swansonmurder/mystery. I have to admit I do love Denise Swanson and the Scumble River Mystery books. Funny, fast paced, good clean read. Some may say a bit cheesy, but I find it is just what I need when I want a break from my daily routine.Skye Dennison is the local school psychologist, self proclaimed investigator of crime in her home town of Scumble River Illinois. She is dating Simon the local coroner/funeral director. Skye finds herself along with her beau Simon, joining the local elite social group. Once in this club she ends up ordering home food products from Barbie Addison. She goes to Barbie's house to pick up her food, and finds both Barbie and her husband dead, with bows tied around their throats.As Skye begins her investigation she finds that half the town had a problem with Ken, a prominent doctor. So many people with a motive for murder. Add to this she has an uninvited house guest, and severe Midwest winter. Her life is in danger, as she digs deep into the lives of her fellow citizens to find the killer.
I like this series as a whole pretty well, but a few things bugged me in this one. One, a teenager says, (paraphrasing) "Have you seen what they do in those popular music videos?" Is she 80? Two, the information from a computer sure sounded like it was saved on floppy disc. Really? This book was written in 2003! Three, Sky dated Simon for 8 or 9 months. They broke up. Then they dated for 5 or so more months. (I haven't read the books that this happened in, but they summed it up.) They just recently had sex for the first time. For reals? Is SHE 80?
Do You like book Murder Of A Barbie And Ken (2003)?
i am hoping fo the best with this one. This small town in Illinois seems like a small town in the south and the names are horrendous. Once again, an attempt to make Skye look "better"? Ok. This story has caught my interest but who in their right mind would allow a stranger into their home after having been a part of several murders? And school is cancelled, the motel is full, the roads are bad, Skye is sick yet she goes out shopping and to get her gourmet meals? Come on! These things pull the reader out of the story. So do the ridiculous chapter quotes. What a unique name for a school newspapaer, Skye. What happens to her cold? She goes bowling? And once again is asked to help solve the murders. Too much. If she was even half a good sleuth, but she isn't even intelligent enough to know not to allow a stranger in her house just on the claim she is Simon's mother, who by the way, he can't stand.Too many quips in this novel. Once again the language of the teenagers shows a higher IQ than Skye. Not much more to add to this review.
—Vicky
Murder of A Barbie and Ken by Denise Swanson is the 5th book in A Scumble River mystery series. After attending a gourmet delite party, Skye finds the bodies of the hostess, Barbie Addison and her husband Ken when she stops to pick up her meals the next day. I love this series and it seems to be getting better with each book. I love the characters and it is a series that should definitely be read in order to appreciate their development and relationships. This book introduces us to Simon's mother, Bunny. It's great to finish a book and know that there are plenty more in the series to look forward to.
—Anastasia
