Review: A Novel with Humor and Heart
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 25, 2013
This was the first Camilla Randall mystery I read. I wasn't aware that it was the fourth in a series, and I found it perfectly easy to follow as a standalone.The tumble of one of the main characters from wealth to being penniless is almost Dickensian, as is her treatment of the community of homeless people where the former socialite lands. In the aftermath of a U.S. Presidential election where the word "takers" was carelessly bandied about, I find that Allen's portrayal of these characters provides an effective rebuttal.While the theme of homelessness is as serious as it gets, the author is gifted in being able to handle the issue with a light touch and to intertwine the stories of the two main characters with a nice sense of balance. I also enjoyed the bizarre twists in the plot line and overall found the book to be a compulsive read.