A Knife in the Back
In this successor toMurder Is an Art(1999), Dr. Sally Good, head of the English Department at Hughes Community College near Houston, and her colleague Jack Neville team up to solve another murder. An unpopular college trustee is stabbed to death by the knife Jack made in one of the college's continuing-education classes. The police seem disinclined to search further for suspects, so Sally and Jack work to clear Jack's name and find the real killer. Academic politics, Jack's asking Sally for a date, and Sally's attraction to the "built" but dangerous Jorge complicate Sally's life, while the self-effacing, computer-game-addicted Jack can still see the humor in his situation, as evidenced by his witty asides. The relationship between the two likable main characters, the academic setting, and the all-pervasive humor make Crider's latest a pleasant read for cozy fans, especially those who enjoy Charlotte MacLeod's Peter Shandy mysteries. Crider also writes two other, considerably less cozy series, starring Dan Rhodes and Truman Smith, respectively.Sue O'BrienCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved