When three prominent Winnebago County residents kill themselves within days of each other, Sgt. Corky Aleckson, of the Oak Lea Police Department, doesn't believe it is just a coincidence and starts looking for a link. What she doesn't realize is that the deaths aren't really suicides but the work of a serial killer who has compiled a list of targets, and one of Corky's dearest friends may be the next victim.

"Murder in Winnebago County" by Christine Husom is an excellent novel, full of suspense and drama. The town of Oak Lea is an authentic picture of small town America that reminded me of my own hometown and many of the characters seemed familiar, like I had known them all my life. This is a credit to the author, who not only manages to develop the characters while keeping the story moving, but also takes the time to develop the antagonist in an effort to shed some light on the motivation as events unfold.

I particularly enjoyed the interaction between the main character, Corky Aleckson, and the other characters, such as her mom and her partner at the police department, as well as a new relationship that develops and brings a little romance into the story. The dialogue flows with ease and seems as natural as real life conversation which is, again, a credit to the talent of author Christine Husom. When such detail is taken with the little aspects of storytelling, the book as a whole becomes more believable and compelling.

If you like a good mystery with interesting characters that you will care about, then I highly recommend this book. It is the first in what I hope will be a long running series and I, for one, can't wait to read the next installment.