M & M 's

Two rather long series by two ladies with M names. Margaret Maron continues the adventures of Deborah Knott with "Winter's Child". I like this series, but can't say that the mystery is the most important thing. The development of the characters in the Knott family and the rural atmosphere of Dobbs, North Carolina keep me reading this series. It feels like the author is also more interested in moving the lives of the characters along than in the intriques that make their lives interesting. Ex-wives are not faring well as of late, in another series where I am awaiting the paperback of the latest book the author will also get rid of a wife to change the love interest dynamics.
Marcia Muller continues the Sharon McCone series (book 17?) with "Vanishing Point". Sharon, the San Francisco based PI, works the California scene. In this book Paso Robles, Davis, Crescent City and even an Oregon visit to Klamath Falls are all included - good thing Sharon learned to fly a small airplane many books ago. I really enjoy this series and have followed it for many years. The San Francisco/California connection is particularly satisfying. I was glad, however, that the case Sharon takes in this one is not as personal as the ones in many of the later books. Nice to know that she does do PI work for someone other than herself and her firm. As often happens reading the latest installment in a series is prompting a re-read - this time of the preceding book.