Cuando la delicada Eileen Chandler está lista para casarse, su familia teme que el hombre sea un cazafortunas. Gracias a Dios, la prima de Eileen, Elizabeth MacPherson, viene temprano en busca de apoyo. Desafortunadamente, Elizabeth también tiene que detectar algo, ya que se encuentra un cadáver y ninguno de los invitados a la boda está libre de sospechas...

I’ve been hearing about McCrumb’s mysteries for a long time but had never read one. I saw this one available for checkout at the library and grabbed it on a whim. I have to say I can’t quite see the attraction. The protagonist, amateur sleuth Elizabeth McPherson, was characterized as a spacy airhead who didn’t seem capable of detecting her own hand held in front of her face, let alone catching a murderer. I can only assume the series improved after this first entry, but I probably won’t be continuing with it. At that, it’s a relief not to have one more series to worry about. ( )

Slow starter, A 100, Possibly try the next

This is a bit of an odd book all the way around. It's got some of the things I love in the Ballad books--all the throwaway details that breathe life into a small-town setting, some gorgeous language, and bits of sparkling wit that are great fun to read. But as a mystery it's never elevated beyond 'okay' for me. Elizabeth makes an odd choice of protagonist; she's got some fun, interesting moments, but she never seems quite strong enough as a character to shoulder the book--much less an entire series--and her ultimate involvement with the mystery seems rather lacking.

It's not a bad book, but not interesting enough to hook me on the MacPherson series. I'll stick with Nora Bonesteel and the Ballad novels, and would certainly recommend that first-time McCrumb readers save MacPherson entries for later. This is not the best introduction to a remarkable author. ( )

This is a charming Americanized version of the classic estate murder mystery. ELizabeth goes to her rich relatives” estate for the marriage of her cousin. There is a ensemble of strange characters, the isolation of a country estate, and , of course, a murder.McCrumb tosses in enough humor to make this a thoroughly enjoyable cozy myster, ( )

When delicate Eileen Chandler is set to marry, her family fears the man is a fortune hunter. Thank goodness, Eileen's cousin Elizabeth MacPherson comes early for support. Unfortunately, Elizabeth also has some detecting to do, as a dead body is found, and none of the wedding party is above suspicion.

Easy paced murder mystery with a well-developed plot and a cast of fully developed characters. Elizabeth is the narrator and as she relates the events up to and since the murder of her cousin Eileen, allowing the reader to follow the clues. An enjoyable reading experience I can recommend to anyone who likes a well-crafted mystery. ( )

This was a really slow moving book and I only got into it at the very last two chapters. As I know how wonderful a writer Sharyn became in later novels, I gave it a chance, otherwize I wouldn't have gotten thru it--no pathos, cumbersome plot, just dragged and dragged. But we all know she go so much better as did her main character --down the line. ( )

Another cosy murder mystery.The brittle, closeted Oscar Wildean gay brother annoyed me. Too many crazy people in this book, and too many straight out of the DSM problems. I guess that mean the author does research!

I did get the next one in the series, so I must have liked it when I finished it. Time has tarnished the memory! ( )

The author, Sharyn McCrumb, manages to infuse a lot of humor into this mystery. Everyone knows how painful it can be when roped into participating in a relative's wedding. The main character, Elizabeth, didn't know just how painful it was going to be! It was fun reading the witty repartee between Elizabeth and her cousins. However, I did feel that the majority of the characters were just caricatures of personality types. There was little depth shown in most of them, so they mostly seemed silly to me.

It was difficult to root for a protagonist that was wandering aimlessly in life, as Elizabeth was. With a fairly useless degree and no job in sight, she seemed more interested in trying to find a husband. Yes, this was added humor for the storyline, but didn't do much for the women's empowerment movement. This book was published in 1999, so that might have a lot to do with this character type, as the trend nowadays is to have a stronger, more forceful woman protagonist.

Overall, this book was a nice, light mystery, and enjoyable to read. I will be trying out some of the sequels to see how Elizabeth turns out! ( )

I just wasn't crazy about this, cute light reading, but didn't hold my interest.

http://ktleyed.blogspot.com/2009/11/sick-of-shadows-by-sharon-mccrumb.html ( )

A fun cozy mystery, the first of the "Elizabeth MacPherson" series.

After college graduation, Elizabeth returns to Georgia to attend her cousin Eileen's wedding. The family is all up in arms about the groom, suspecting he's more in love with Eileen's money than with poor Eileen herself. And then, to put everyone completely out of countenance, murder interferes with the nuptial arrangements.

Elizabeth has a wonderfully oddball family, and is no slouch in the eccentricity department herself. I felt empathy for each of the characters, especially poor beleaguered Eileen, and even for her spitefully unpleasant mama Amanda. Elizabeth's letters to her boyfriend provide extra spice to the mysterious goings-on. The sly title reference to "The Lady of Shalott" is more than appropriate. Nicely done. ( )

Fairly light reading, pleasant series character, some funny dialog based on literary quotations. ( )

Disappointing, although I can't remember exactly why—and that says a lot to me. ( )

planned wedding leads to murder of Elizabeth's cousin

Disappointing, although I can't remember exactly why—and that says a lot to me. ( )

Not McCrumb's best MacPherson, but Elizabeth MacPherson is such an engaging heroine, it's still fun.

The first Elizabeth MacPherson mystery, set during a wedding in Georgia. ( )

I feel like I read this before. It isn't one of her best. It kept my interest though. ( )