Another funny outing with Deuce Winters, the stay-at-home dad with the gorgeous (and hugely-pregnant) lawyer wife and the adorable preschooler. I really enjoy this series.

Deuce always runs afoul of dead bodies, nefarious strangers, and shady activities while trying manfully to be involved in community affairs that affect his wife and daughter. This time is no different as he tries to focus on 4-H, the county fair concession stand, and preventing Julianne from committing homicide or hari-kiri. Julianne is funny, feisty, and nearly 10 months pregnant. Either this child leaves her body speedily, or heads will roll...possibly Deuce's.

Even more likely, Victor's. Julianne does NOT want Deuce involved in another murder investigation. However... Victor is the dwarf private investigator who is Deuce's reluctant partner in sleuthing. They are trying to unravel the circumstances of the dead body Deuce found in the fair ground freezer. The dead body leads, as is to be expected, to financial shenanigans, secret affairs, underground political movements (sort of), and shady strangers handing out big money for questionable promises.

The characters, both central and peripheral, are well-drawn and completely nuts. The small town atmosphere of gossips, good-ole-boys, multi-generational grudges, and long memories is so true to life, I'd swear the author came from my home town. At the same time, there are moments of insight and tender feeling that touch me in the heart. I really like this series for the humor, smiles of recognition, and mild mysteries. Worth my time and recommended.

Deuce Winters and his wife Julianne are pulling concession stand duty at the local 4H county fair stand when he discovers a dead body in the freezer. Julianne, pregnant and overdue, doesn't want Deuce involved in yet another crime in Rose Petal, but as usual, things just start to fall into Deuce's lap. Allen's characters (and characterizations) of the folks of this small Texas town are spot on, from his first book regaling the wonders of football to the pride of the county fair. I continue to read these for both a pretty solid mystery that keeps me guessing and for the interplay among characters. With the arrival of kid#2, I imagine Deuce's life will get very interesting. ( )