Cozy
Publisher:
Avalon Publishing Group
Publication Date:
01 January, 2002
ISBN:
9780786708741
Pages:
352
Subjects:
Mystery
Available as:
,
Trade Cloth, 978-0-7867-0874-1
E-Book - Kindle, 978-1-936441-33-4
Description:
In this new Stanley Hastings mystery novel, the put-upon New York private investigator is vacationing at the Blue Frog Ponds Inn, a trendy New England bed-and-breakfast, with his wife, Alice. The cheerless room with its paper-thin walls, no TV, and a blue cartoon frog on the door does nothing for Stanley's spirits or his libido. Besides all that, someone has started bumping off the guests. Worse still, the first murder happened right under Stanley's nose, so he finds himself a key witness if not a prime suspect. Back home in New York City Stanley could call upon his friends on the police force to help him solve the crime, but not at Blue Frog Ponds. Here he has only his wits, his wife, and a cat -- all of which he'll need if he's to catch a killer before the culprit strikes very close to home.
Read More
PW Publishers Weekly
Review Source:
Publishers Weekly
Review Date:
2001-05-21
Copyright:
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Ingenious plotting and a hefty dose of humor offset an underlying silliness in Edgar and Shamus-nominee Hall's 14th novel featuring his New York City PI, Stanley Hastings (Detective; Murder; Blackmail; etc.). Stanley and his henpecking wife, Alice, slip away for a week's vacation in the New Hampshire mountains while their son, Tommie, goes off to his first sleep-away camp in Vermont. Unfortunately, after all his tiring hiking and less than romantic nights at the Blue Frogs Inn with its paper-thin walls, Stanley finds himself on a busman's holiday when two guests at the B and B are murdered. The first victim, gorgeous blonde Christine, is poisoned in the middle of the cocktail hour while sharing a booth with lean, handsome Lars her boyfriend (or is it husband?). Just a day or two later a nosy tourist, Mrs. McInnerny, is found in her room with a kitchen knife sticking out of her chest. Since Pinehurst, the local police chief, is incompetent, Stanley must take over the investigation. Eventually, a frisky dog and a dour cat come into the picture, not to mention blue frogs of every nature, particularly those on the guest-room doors. The coziness often verges on gooeyness, while the author makes no effort to convey the beauty of the mountain setting. The book's real strength is its plot, which has a certain crazed logic that will keep most readers turning the pages. The B and B chef's yummy recipes are also a plus. (July 1) FYI: Rights have been sold to France, Germany, Japan, and the U.K. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Read More