Book Review: A Conventional Corpse

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

A Conventional Corpse     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Joan Hess
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Cozy   Woman Main Character
Series: Claire Molloy # 13
St. Martin’s, Jun 2000, $23.95, 288 pp.

The Book Depot, an independent bookstore located in Farberville, Arkansas, generates enough revenue to support owner Claire Malloy and her sixteen-year old daughter Caron. Claire expects to make enough money to dramatically reduce her debts at the Murder Comes to Campus Mystery convention sponsored by the Thurber Farber Foundation for the Humanities at Farber College.

Claire’s belief in her making a substantial profit ends when she is forced to replace the hospitalized convention’s chairman. Claire initially enjoys talking with the authors, but only a few hours in their company pass before she realizes most of them are petty, jealous, and cranky. An attendee dies in a tragic car accident. The kidnapping of an author’s cat and the murder of an editor follow. After having solved many homicides over the past few years, Claire begins her own investigation that almost leads to her own death.

Fans of the Malloy mystery series will be delighted to learn that after a long gap, a new installment is on the shelves. A CONVENTIONAL CORPSE is a witty and enchanting cozy that captures the ambiance of campus small town life. The subplot involving the heroine and her egotistical former lover is extremely humorous. There is an abundance of viable suspects that add to the complexity of Joan Hess’ wonderful amateur sleuth novel.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner

Please Note: Books reviewed are usually provided by the publisher, author, or an agent. Reviewers usually get to keep the book.