Monday, September 13, 2010

Skating Around the Law-Joelle Charbonneau

Skating Around the Law
Joelle Charbonneau
Minotaur, Sep 28 2010, $24.99
ISBN: 9780312629809

Thirtyish Chicago mortgage broker Rebecca Robbins inherits a roller skating rink from her deceased mom in her hometown of Indian Falls, Illinois. She has no plans to keep it and wants to sell it as soon as possible. However, her plan to sell immediately is placed on hold when maintenance man Mack Murphy is found dead with his head in a toilet and prescription pills on the floor nearby.

The obvious conclusion is suicide, but medical examiner Doc Truman thinks a homicide occurred. Remaining in town longer than she planned, Rebecca considers sleuthing to expedite the sale as the cops seem more Keystone than detective; while her grandfather Pop, veterinarian Lionel Franklin and Elwood the retired circus camel want her to stay.

This is a well written amusing amateur sleuth that readers will enjoy as the locals (except the above mentioned trio) no longer consider Rebecca a native as she is Chicago tainted especially since she could not wait to leave town from the moment her dad deserted her and her mom. The story line is faster than a spin around the track, but it is the jocularity that makes Skating Around the Law an entertaining whodunit.

Harriet Klausner

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