Mama Does Time: A Mace Bauer Mystery

By Deborah Sharp

Book Overview

"Who knew that a who-dun-it would not only keep you guessing--but have you laughing Deborah Sharp is the new Edna Buchanan."--Hoda Kotb, co-anchor of NBC's Today show Meet Mama: a true Southern woman with impeccable manners, sherbet-colored pantsuits, and four prior husbands, able to serve sweet tea and sidestep alligator attacks with equal aplomb. Mama's antics--especially her penchant for finding trouble -- drive her daughters Mace, Maddie, and Marty to distraction. One night, while settling in to look for ex-beaus on COPS , Mace gets a frantic call from her mother. This time, the trouble is real: Mama found a body in the trunk of her turquoise convertible and the police think she's the killer. It doesn't help that the handsome detective assigned to the case seems determined to prove Mama's guilt or that the cowboy who broke Mace's heart shows up at the local Booze & 'n' Breeze in the midst of the investigation. Before their mama lands in prison--just like an embarrassing lyric from a country-western song--Mace and her sisters must find the real culprit. TV APPEARANCES NBC's Today Show from November 4, 2008 Mayor's Book Talk " from January 14, 2009 NBC6 " South Florida Today " from July 17, 2009 NBC's Today Show from August 4, 2009 Praise: " Mama Does Time is a humorous, touching reflection on familial love and politics."-- Mystery Scene Magazine "With a strong, funny heroine, colorful characters, and a look at a part of Florida the tourists rarely see, Deborah Sharp has an engaging new series. Make sure Mama Does Time does time on your bookshelf."--Elaine Viets, author of Clubbed to Death: a Dead-End Job Mystery "Not since the late Anne George has there been such laugh-out-loud Southern fried fun. Deborah Sharp's Mama Does Time is a hilarious page turner with crisp and intelligent writing."--Sue Ann Jaffarian, author of the Odelia Grey Mystery series "Deborah Sharp's witty way with words makes Mama Does Time as much fun as a down-home visit with your quirky Florida cousins."--Nancy Martin, author of the Blackbird Sisters Mysteries "Colorful characters and a segment of Florida seldom seen by tourists evoke a Southern Sisters feeling in this very well written Southern fried epic...A winner."--BookBitch.com "The author's surname--Sharp--is an apt adjective to describe her writing. Her characters crackle off the page."--Cozy Library "Deborah Sharp has an eye for character...She's funny, perceptive, and entertaining. What more can a cozy reader ask for?"--Reviewing the Evidence "Newcomer Deborah Sharp will knock your socks off with this clever cozy mystery."--Fresh Fiction

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0738713295
• ISBN13: 9780738713298
• Release Date: October 2008
• Publisher: Midnight Ink
• Length: 326 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Move over Carl Hiaasen -- here comes Mama!

As a 30-year resident of the state, I've come to love and cherish the remnants of old Florida that have escaped the developers. Deborah Sharp, a Florida cracker and crackerjack writer, captures that rare essence in her debut novel, "Mama Does Time." With a sharp eye and quick wit, she brings to life Himmarshee, a still unspoiled bit of Florida real estate, in which live fun- and man-loving Mama, her three grown daughters and a passel of colorful characters that spring off the pages of this funny yet suspenseful read. I don't want to give a smidgen of the plot away (and there's no need since other reviews offer a taste). What I will say is that as a journalist, book author and lifelong lover of mysteries, I thoroughly enjoyed the world Sharp conjures up, melding Carl Hiaasen's mastery of Florida absurdism with Erma Bombeck folksiness seamlessly bound together with Sharp's eye for detail and fun. I eagerly await the next episode in what I hope will be a long line of Mace Bauer novels.

A Really Good Read

I read a lot of mysteries. I started out with the "English Cottage" mysteries, so it's no surprise that I prefer mysteries that have a good sense of place, time and character. I also like mysteries that are part of a series. It's difficulty to find a good mystery, so when I do, I want there to be more. I've also read a fair number of first-time authors, probably because I harbor a secret dream of being one myself. I'm pretty critical of first-timers. But I have to say that I really liked Deborah Sharp's MAMA DOES TIME. It has a comfortable voice. She doesn't try too hard to be funny--interecting humor in a way that doesn't call attention to itself. And Sharp has a delightful sense of time, place and familial relationships. It meets all of my criteria. It's a great read--and there are more to come! How cool is that?

Couldn't put it down!

As an avid reader of this type of murder mystery genre, I am always on the lookout for a new cast of well-written characters and an "I have to finish it now!" story. This has it all! It is smart, witty, and full of vibrant details that make Mama, her family, and a quirky Florida town come alive. From the first page to the last, the wonderful images elicited from the author's descriptive writing placed me into the hilarious chaos that surrounds Mama and left me on the edge of my seat to find out who done it! It has left me wanting more Mama!! I looked for other Mace Bauer mysteries and there is another book coming in July- can't wait!! PS: My husband, who is definitely not a reader, (unless reading Cat in the Hat to our two small children qualifies as being a reader) saw how caught up I became in the book and had to read it himself. He is now a few pages from the end. Mace Bauer can work miracles too it seems :)

A great trip to disappearing Florida

I really enjoyed this fast-read. Mama and her antics took me on a journey to the "back roads Florida" I love. The writing is full of color and the "Florida speak" is so entertaining. I rarely laugh out loud, but I did as I read "Mama." I thought this would mostly appeal to women, but was pleasantly surprised that "Mama" appeals to men too. I can't wait for the next "Mama" book.

Better Than Any Thrill Ride in Florida

Wow, What a ride!!! I had heard about this book from a friend who heard the author talk about her new series. And being a Yankee who once lived in the south and constantly traveled to quirky parts of Florida, I thought I would give it a try...it was like getting on a thrill ride that definitely did not disappoint! I love this colorful woman that everyone would want to know, and each character was so wonderfully bizarre that they felt real. This was so fun to read that I cannot wait for the next one. I immediately sent a copy to my friends who know I always am on the cutting edge of discovering new authors. I Googled the author's name to find something else y her and found this great blog - http://mysterygal-mysterygal.blogspot.com/ as well as an index of her USA Today articles. Why she is not a syndicated columnist is beyond me. Erma Bombeck you may have met your match!!!