Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
The Body in the Bookcase
Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Katherine Hall Page
Class/Genre: Mystery Amateur Sleuth Culinary Woman Main Character
Series: Faith Fairchild # 9
Morrow, Nov 1998, $22.00, 244 pp.
Being married to a minister in a small Massachusetts town means visiting members of the congregation. Transplanted New Yorker Faith Fairchild understands that all too well as she puts her catering business on hold until she completes her current obligation.
However, the nuisance of the trips take a back seat when Faith arrives at the home of the elderly librarian, Sarah Winslow. Apparently, someone broke in to Sarah's home, killed her, and stole selected items. When Faith becomes a victim of a break-in, she decides to investigate by making the rounds of the pawn shops and antique stores in search of stolen valuables. Everyone, including loyal friends and workers, are suspect as a paranoid Faith continues her inquiries even though she may be placing her own life on the line.
The ninth Fairchild amateur sleuth tale is one of the best entries in a wonderful series. The plot is crisp and the who-done-it is well designed. However, what makes THE BODY IN THE BOOKCASE a superb book is that the story line rings so true because of the reactions of the townsfolk, especially Faith feeling violated, to the robberies. Using her own experience, Katherine Hall has scribed one of the sub-genre's best novels of the year.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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