Heart Trouble is the fifth book in Kathy Hogan Trocheck's Callahan Garrity series, and the second book in the series that I've read.  And just like the first book in the series, Every Crooked Nanny, this book is full of amazingly fun characters that actually make me smile.   

Our main character is Callahan Garrity.  She's an ex-police officer, and ex-private investigator with a ton of spunk.  Now she runs a house-cleaning service, along with her mother.  But Callahan doesn't get to stray very far from her investigation roots.  Because in each book, Callahan finds herself immersed in somebody's troubles. 

In this case, Callahan finds herself working with Atlanta's most hated citizen - a wealthy white woman who drove drunk and killed a black child.  Then, thanks to some fancy-shmancy lawyering, she got off with less than a slap on her wrist.  To say that this woman is disliked by much of the Atlanta community, is putting it mildly.  But she's asked for Callahan's help in another matter.  Despite a lot of people wanting Callahan to turn down the job, she accepts.  This puts her at odds with a lot of people, even her own employees. And - pretty soon - the bodies start piling up.

I liked this book better than I did the first one.  In this case, the story was tighter, more realistic, and examined themes that are very poignant around the globe today.  I have to admit, I was truly sickened by the thought of how ‘loopholes' in the legal system can be exploited to such a degree.  And how there's little doubt that money definitely played a large part in finding this particular loophole.  In other words, the rich can get away with things that the average Joe cannot, in certain situations.  And the parents of the little girl that was killed - they're left with nothing but a tombstone, and no sense of justice.

So the story in this book was pretty good - certainly better than in the first book of the series, where I found the story to be quite lame.  But for me, it's really the characters that make these books such delights.  Callahan is the type of person I'd want for friend.  Loyal, hard-working, tenacious, but definitely not perfect.  She's very human - struggling with her weight, at times struggling with her conscience, dealing with some family drama... in other words - she's like a real person, not the perfect heroine portrayed in other books of this genre.  In this book, she has to decide the best course of action when it comes to her own employees, who disagree with the concept of helping this particular client.  Even to the point where one of employees accuses her of being racist, something Callahan has never thought of herself.  But now she has to consider - is there a trace of truth to the accusation?

Callahan's mother also plays a major part in this book.  Edna Mae, always a very strong character in prior books, is having a major health crisis.  And Callahan has to juggle her mother's care with everything else that's going on.  I've been there.  Dealing with our parents, as they get older, and ill.  I know the stress and pain of this situation, and was able to sympathize with Callahan.

And then there's Neva Jean - one of Callahan's employees.  She has a situation at home that she's dealing with, too, one that provides the book's comic relief.  Let's just say, I smiled quite a few times, at Neva's situation.

So we have an intriguing story, and characters that feel very real, as they struggle with everyday situations.  Plus a smidgeon of humor.  Overall, an enjoyable book that I can certainly recommend.  

Every Crooked Nanny
Irish Eyes
Strange Brew

Recommended: Yes