Sarah Winston is a former military spouse who decided after her divorce to stay in Ellington, Massachusetts, near her friends. She's built a life for herself and is happy with her business organizing garage and estate sales. Her latest client is the daughter of former CIA agents, and has asked her to sell all the contents in her parents' home, since she and her brother don't want anything. But when a man enters the home declaring he's Jeanette's brother Troy, Sarah is at first told it's okay, but then after he injures himself and is taken to the hospital, Jeanette declares him a fraud and both are wondering what he wanted so badly at the home that he would lie to gain entrance...

Meanwhile, a young military spouse at Fitch Air Force base is found murdered, and to Sarah's surprise, both police officer Pellner, who's now a friend, and OSI agent Frank Bristow are asking for her help. They want her to listen to any rumors of who might have had a reason to kill her and report back to them.

It looks as if her plate is full, with the murder investigation, and a sale so large she needs to hire help. But there's more...mobster Mike Titone is back again, living next door to Sarah for reasons unknown -- meaning he won't tell her -- and she's on guard looking for strangers trying to enter her building, even if Mike does have a bodyguard outside.

But when Sarah hears disparaging remarks about herself, and a base wife is asking for her help declaring her innocence, what is she to do? Stretch herself as thin as she can and hope that she doesn't break over trying to catch the bad guys...this one might even be too much for her...

This is the eighth book in the series and I have read them all. I am really enjoying this series, and reading them faster than the author can turn them out. If I like a series, I will try and read them all at once (not always possible); but I love Sarah. She's not stupid and doesn't take unnecessary chances like breaking and entering, and even though she goes a little farther than the police like, she doesn't knowingly put herself in danger.

Sarah is strong, smart, a beautiful woman, and finally deciding she can move on with life after her divorce left her broken and bruised. Watching her figure things out is interesting enough, even with everything else that is going on in her life. I love the fact that we are given glimpses into what her life must have been like as opposed to what it is now (I much prefer the now, having once been an Air Force wife myself).

When Sarah figures things out, she catches the man breaking into the home in a dramatic climax that is different enough to be believable, and when the murderer of the young wife is found, it's rather sad how people can do things that can cause pain to others. This book is definitely a very good one, and the story is drawn well, with characters you want to see time and time again; and like the DiNapolis, I do like Seth much better than CJ. Highly recommended. ( )

My taste buds have been undergoing a change during the past year or two. Cozies are falling out of favor (or is that flavor?), I'm afraid-- but there are always exceptions, and Sherry Harris's Garage Sale Mystery series is definitely one of those exceptions.

I love the titles Harris gives to her books, and Sell Low, Sweet Harriet is my favorite. But this series is much more than funny titles. I also love Sarah Winston. She's smart, good-hearted, and learns from her mistakes. When her friend Stella is having a problem, Sarah is there for her. When Sarah can't get everything done by herself, she hires two women to help her, and she has just the right attitude for both of them. (Speaking of those new hires, I'd love to see more of Harriet!)

Harris may have frozen me to the bone with her New England winter, but the mystery she carefully plotted in Sell Low, Sweet Harriet is excellent and kept me guessing every slippery step of the way. Yes, indeed. Sherry Harris has made me like garage sales now-- as long as Sarah Winston is in charge of them. This book-- and the entire series-- is packed with great characters and mysteries. If you haven't read one yet, you really need to do something about it. Pick one up and start reading. You'll be glad you did! ( )