Service Dress Blues: Rep and Melissa Pennyworth Mystery    by Michael Bowen Order:  USA  Can Poisoned Pen, 2009 (2009) Hardcover, Audio, CD     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth This fifth in his Rep and Melissa Pennyworth Mysteries is another winner from trial lawyer Michael Bowen. His books always demonstrate what a learned and well-educated man he is. Though much of the reasoning in his novels is over my head, his books are fun to read, as the mysteries are convoluted and full of surprises. I read them not only to enjoy a good puzzler with sparkling dialogue, but also to learn a little I didn't know before. A midshipman is found stark naked and unconscious in the lobby of a cheap motel in Annapolis, Maryland near the Naval Academy. His nearest relatives are two scrappy oldsters, Lena and Ole, who never really moved on from the sixties. Since Lena and Ole are noted for beating up on one another, when Ole is found murdered, all eyes turn to Lena. Politics come into play as gambling becomes a main issue as well as the strict rules governing the plebes at the Academy. Bowen pulls together political campaigns and the rich and ruthless into a closely woven fabric that never unravels. As I said before, his story line gets convoluted. But hang in there. All is explained at the end. And a good ending, it is. His characters are well-fleshed out and his puns worthy of print. Service Dress Blues is not to be missed. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews