I’m so glad these first two books of Aaron Paul Lazar’s Gus LeGarde mysteries have been republished. I somehow missed reading them first time around and picked up the series later on. Now I’m learning the pasts of much-beloved characters, seeing events of other books through different eyes, and thoroughly enjoying myself. It’s a wonderful series, filled with the sort of people you’d love to meet, meals you’d love to eat, and scenery you’d love to wander in – plus the occasional touch of murder and mystery.

In Upstaged, musician LeGarde and his fiancée are staging a high school production of LeGarde’s own musical (based on events told in Spirit Me Away). High school dialog and atmosphere feel spot on; a blinding eagerness to get the part; magical joy of dance; rising excitement as the date of the show approaches. But behind the scenes there are evil deeds afoot and no-one knows if the attacker is aiming for the people, the school, or both. Will the show go on, or will it be upstaged by danger and deceit?

The author has a wonderful touch with natural everyday people and things. Food, yardwork, cooking and family celebrations all take their place, with a warmly believable Thanksgiving scene where I can almost smell the turkey and drool over dressing. Kindness is nicely juxtaposed with evil, generous risk-taking with threatening behavior, and hope with despair. The musical lyrics sing as they’re presented on the page. Meals scent the air. Danger quickens the heartbeat...

Okay; I love the series, and therefore I’m bound to love this book. But there’s an extra at the end which any writer or lover of writers will enjoy, where the author describes the changes made in this second edition, and gives his reasoning why. It makes a great bonus to a thoroughly enjoyable, family-oriented, nature-scented, cozy mystery.

Disclosure: I think it was a gift but I can’t remember. ( )