Private Investigators, Clara Samples and Iris Hadley, are at it again. The two widows are celebrating a successful first year of business when Pritchard Pitts of the Atlanta Police Department swings by with an unusual case. One that’s already been solved. But family members of both the victims and the offenders have doubts that the jury got it right. It’ll be up to the PI’s and their trusted team to prove the two men incarcerated for the double murder are indeed innocent. As they delve deeper into the grisly crime, nothing is as it seems. From Iris working undercover as a waitress, to Clara scouring out-of-state pawn shops, the duo soon discovers more questions than answers. Are the men locked away in one of Georgia’s most secure prisons guilty or innocent? And will the fearless private investigators and their team survive long enough to get the answer? "Terri Stepek reviewed it for Reader Views (03/2024) and awarded it a 5-star Editorial Book Review!" Author Kim Carter wows fans yet again with another great Clara and Iris Mystery entitled "The Root of All Evil." If you haven't yet had the pleasure of meeting Clara Samples and Iris Hadley, here's a little primer. Both are widows in their "golden years" and have enjoyed a close friendship for over 50 years. Both are intelligent in their own ways, but neither is streetwise or tech-savvy. Clara is steady, calm, reliable, and the ever-present voice of reason. Iris is... not. She's more reactionary, hot-headed, and has no working filter for her brain-to-mouth interface. Together, they're unstoppable. They've opened their own business in their twilight years and are happy with their newfound careers as private investigators. Their case this time is already solved. Or so the Atlanta PD says, having incarcerated two men for the theft and double homicide of a wealthy Atlanta couple seven years ago. Their friend from APD, Pritchard Pitts, has asked that they look a little further into the former case because not everyone believes the men serving time for the crime are truly the guilty parties. As they dig into the facts, this case becomes more intriguing, with a host of fun new characters as well as several old favorites. Two spectacular standouts among the new faces are from a crusty old diner- what many would have called a "greasy spoon" in the day. As Iris says it: "This place needs more than moppin'," she commented, rubbing her fingers across the greasy pleather of one of the booths. "It needs Jesus." The owner/cook, Reno, is an enigmatic character with a gruff, anti-social demeanor. How he keeps his wreck of a restaurant, the Starlight, open is a head-scratcher of a mystery. His one and only waitress, Marigold, is verbally abused by her boss and friendly, but she's a seriously dim bulb. Her well-meaning teachers repeatedly passed her to the next grade level so she could eventually leave school and start her inevitable minimum-wage career. It's easy to feel sorry for Marigold when we meet her at the diner. "The Root of All Evil" is packed with mystery, intrigue, lies, and misfortune. It's also a fun and entertaining read with stellar characters, uniquely crafted and full of warmth, charm, and wit. While Clara's steady demeanor is wonderful and wise, it's Iris who steals the spotlight nearly every time. She's what I aspire to be: the crazy old lady who can get away with doing and saying whatever she wants. Oh, to be so free... In case you're thinking this is one of those cutesy cozy mysteries that old ladies like to read, let me disabuse you of that notion. With Iris' surly comments, I don't think it could qualify as such. While it shares certain traits with such novels, it is more in line with a PI/amateur sleuth story. Fans who enjoy sussing out the facts and attempting to solve the case will enjoy this read, as will fans of mysteries with well-honed characters. If you enjoy solid mysteries that include wit, grit, and southern charm with a touch of "bless her heart..." then this is the read for you. Fans of author Kim Carter and the Clara and Iris Mystery series eagerly await the next installment of murder, madness, and mayhem! Novelist Kim Carter is a multi-award-winning author and critically acclaimed writer of gripping suspense, chilling thrillers, and haunting historical mysteries. Ms. Carter is widely known for her vibrant characters in her Clara and Iris Mystery series, a couple of overly curious widows who turn into private investigators. These funny women were inspired by Kim's mother and her mom's best friend.   All of Kim's novels can be purchased online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, BAM, and Indie Bound. Kim's writing career started after she suffered an illness that made her housebound for a couple of years. Ms. Carter is a Saint Leo University college graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. She enjoys gardening and is an avid reader when she is not writing. Kim is a proud mother of four beautiful grown child