Good plots twists and lots of Knott family back story. I love spending time in Colleton County. ( )

When Judge Deborah Knott is summoned to her ailing Aunt Rachel's bedside, she assumes the worst. Thankfully when she arrives at the hospice center she learns that Rachel hasn't passed; in fact, the dying woman is awake. Surrounded by her children, her extended family, and what seems like half of Colleton County, a semi-conscious Rachel breaks weeks of pained silence with snippets of stories as randomly pieced together as a well-worn patchwork quilt. But the Knott family's joy quickly gives way to shock: less than an hour later, Aunt Rachel is found dead in her bed, smothered with a pillow.

Who would kill a woman on her deathbed? Was it an act of mercy, or murder? As Deborah and her husband, Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Bryant, investigate they cross paths with an unlikely set of suspects: Rachel's longtime minister; her neighbor, the respected local doctor; the friendly single father who often sought her advice; and perhaps the most puzzling party of all, the Designated Daughters, a support group for caregivers that Rachel's own daughter belongs to.

Soon Deborah and Dwight realize that the key to solving this case is hidden in Rachel's mysterious final words. Her mixed-up memories harbored a dark secret-a secret that someone close to them is determined to bury forever. ( )

Lots of family history to ponder as this story moves resolutely towards its conclusion. No one does folksy Southern quite like Margaret Maron. She uses all the instruments in the Knott family symphony to resolve the murder of a woman only a few moments from her natural death. ( )

This book has an abundance of the southern charm we have come to expect from Margaret Maron's Judge Knott series. But it suffers from an overabundance of some other things, most notably characters (all related) and plot lines (all intertwined). This makes following the story, or stories, difficult. I finished the book because I like Judge Knott, but this is not one of my favorites in the series. All in all, too many Knotts. ( )

Don’t let the vast cast of characters stop you from enjoying this novel – the author kindly includes a family tree that is most helpful while you sort things out. Elderly Aunt Rachel is in hospice care at the hospital and likely has only hours to live. But she suddenly starts chattering away like a magpie and friends and family gather for the final farewell. When they leave the room for a snack and so Rachel can be freshened up by an aid, someone comes back and murders her in her bed. It makes little sense to murder someone who is so close to death, but then realization sets in: someone is afraid of what Rachel could reveal in her ramblings. Filled with fascinating characters and an intricate plot, this story is quite entertaining. There is more than just the one murder going on! You undoubtedly will want to read the rest of the series, but this tale can be enjoyed on its own. Good writing and a well thought-out plot with plenty of mystery mixed in with humor make the characters come alive and will have you running through the pages. ( )