Review: Solid Detective Fare with Hints of Horror
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 1, 2013
In this, the latest Sarah Woods mystery, the plucky female detective is hired by an elderly widow to look into the possible disappearance of a young female neighbor. Her employer may be onto something or merely nosy. Her own back story is dubious inasmuch as her husband--a former horror film producer--died somewhat mysteriously in the basement, which is still stocked with horror movie props (including a casket) and emits a foul smell that may or may not be a dead raccoon as claimed by the woman's caretaker, an ex-convict. If you get the idea the plot is somewhat tangled, that was my feeling as well. Though not a horror story by any means, it does have a few creepy elements such as that basement of props, a stalker reminiscent of Norman Bates (Psycho), and a trap Sarah finds herself in that is every woman's nightmare. Between these high (or low) points, the story unfolds as missing person's yarns usually do, by identifying possible suspects, investigating each, narrowing down the list, and so forth. The list here includes a philandering husband, an alienated stepson, a stalker, an ex-wife, a caretaker, and the caretaker's wife. Sarah asks questions, follows clues, makes forays to a tavern, deli, and favorite bakery, and eventually winds up in a jam that answers the question of who done it.I've read many of Jennings' novels. Sarah becomes increasingly independent in each. Here, she'sassisted by her mentor and a police detective. I believe she now has it in her to do a job alone, without male assistance. She does punch out a bad guy in this one, a step in the right direction.The story moves along at a fast pace, with solid dialogue and good descriptions, suspense building as fresh clues pop up and new suspects appear. Highly recommended, as always.