A review by cherylanntownsend
Dear Miss Demeanor by Joan Hess

3.0

While, so far, the better of her books, it still needs to tone down the snark and dial up the general story.
Bookstore owner, Claire Malloy, is manipulated into being a substitute teacher to solve a purported embezzlement charge against a favorite teacher by her daughter & her bestie. Given that there is jackhammer construction outside her bookstore and nary a deaf customer, she agrees to give it a go. But then staff start to drop dead and blackmail, peach capote, and swapping dalliances, and fuzzy pink slippers start to paint a bigger picture.
Once again seeking to out sleuth her detective beau, Claire quickly forms a posse of trusted crew to sneak about for evidence to vindicate the ousted teacher, solve the murders, and appease the unease of Lt Rosen.
Still, the biggest mystery is why Hess feels such a need drag on and on with the funny.