#MidweekMystery Dead of Winter Break by Kelly Brakenhoff

It’s beginning to look a lot like murder . . .

And Cassandra Sato is knee deep in . . .
Suspects.
Her boss is dead, and the police are calling it burglary gone wrong. But when the killer comes after her, it’s going to take more than a pair of furry boots to keep the smart, witty Morton College administrator, Cassandra Sato, out of the deep. . .
Snow. Her first Christmas in Nebraska could be her last unless her friends help unravel the mystery and housebreak her dog.

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Review

I love campus cozies and always wonder why there aren’t more of them. After all, academia, with its singular personalities and petty grudges, is a perfect setting for murder. Fortunately, Dead of Winter Break comes at the perfect time, just as the winter holidays are upon us. Reading Dead of Winter Break reminded me why I love this series so much.

Cassandra Sato is a relatable protagonist, a transplant from sunny Hawaii to a considerably-less-balmy hamlet in Nebraska. As Dead of Winter Break opens, Cassandra finds that her retired boss has unexpectedly un-retired and returned from the tropics to Morton College, just in time for a Midwest winter. And that’s not the only surprise in store!

The characters are well-drawn, and the plot twists drew me in and kept me engaged. But where this series really shines is in the telling details. Sitting through a sweltering commencement ceremony in heavy academic regalia, tugging at the front of the hood so it doesn’t strangle you; smiling through gritted teeth at a backhanded compliment from your boss’s boss’s boss; confronting the reality of a Nebraska winter (not so much like the cover of a Land’s End catalog after all, it turns out). Author Kelly Brakenhoff is an American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter, and Cassandra’s administrative role at Morton College includes ensuring services for Deaf students. In addition to a behind-the-scenes tour of a real (or at least extremely realistic) college, Dead of Winter Break gives the reader an enlightening glimpse into Deaf Culture.

I highly recommend Dead of Winter Break for mystery lovers, but if this is your first foray into Cassandra Sato’s world, start with Death by Dissertation, #1 in the series.

About the Author

Kelly Brakenhoff is an American Sign Language Interpreter whose motivation for learning ASL began in high school when she wanted to converse with her deaf friends. As an American Sign Language Interpreter with more than twenty years of experience, Kelly’s worked in college classrooms for fifteen different majors. From traipsing across muddy farm fields to stomach-churning medical procedures, and stage interpreting for famous figures, Kelly’s community interpreting interactions number in the thousands.

Unfortunately, once she’s stepped away from the job, she usually forgets 90% of what happened. Which helps her keep confidential information safe, but also makes it really hard to grocery shop for more than 5 items without a written list.

Kelly wants to live in a world filled with peace, love, and joy, where people who can hear learn enough sign language to include deaf people in everyday conversations and work. Where every deaf child has early access to language and books with characters like them, and dark chocolate is cheap and plentiful.

When she’s not interpreting or writing, you can find Kelly cheering for her favorite Husker teams or training for half-marathons because she really likes dessert.

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