Last year, Teddi Bayer Gallo almost killed her two-timing husband, Rio. This year, Rio is soon to be Teddi’s ex-husband. Teddi and her three children live at their family home; Rio has found other accommodations. Money is tight for Teddi, who owns her own interior decorating business with her best friend, neighbor and business partner, Bobbie.

When one of Teddi’s clients turns up dead, Teddi’s life begins to change. The client was murdered with a faucet that Teddi had procured for the client’s remodeling project. As the police proceed with their investigation of the murder, Teddi does some amateur sleuthing and rubs elbows with Drew Scoones, a handsome detective. Detective Scoones definitely seems interested in Teddi – in more ways than one. However, Teddi’s radar goes off when the police begin suspecting Bobbie as the murderer. Teddi knows that Bobbie is not capable of murder, but why do the police think otherwise? What is Detective Scoones not telling Teddi about the case?

In the midst of the investigation, Teddi’s life goes on. After all, she is a single mom of three with bills to pay. Then there is Teddi’s mother, June, who is still able to give Teddi “the look” in spite of her recent plastic surgery. Nothing would make June happier than for Teddi to settle down with a new man (good riddance to Rio). While Teddi would not mind being in a relationship with the right person, she does not need her mother meddling in her affairs. June’s antics are at Teddi’s expense, though June means well, and the parts of the book concerning June are very funny.

I enjoyed this light mystery, and the “non-mystery” part of the book is as enjoyable, if not more enjoyable, than the mystery itself. Teddi is a great main character, and reading about where life takes her upon her soon-to-be-divorced status was interesting. The mystery is the glue that holds the book together and leaves readers guessing until the end, when the author inserts a surprising twist. Fans of light mysteries and women’s fiction will enjoy Mittman’s Blood Red.