On the Chopping Block
A Brady Kincaid mystery
By Bobby Jaye Allen

        One of the highlights of Early's Founders Day Fair is to be the book signing by best-selling author Holly LeFrance at Brickley's Books. Before the book signing, a review of LeFrance's book appears in the local paper in the syndicated column, On the Chopping Block. The review is a particularly nasty one and Pricilla Brickley worries that this will affect the book signing.

       Before the book signing, the body of Early's librarian, Penelope Powder, is discovered behind the bookstore. She has been brutally murdered. Miss Powder had been strict but respected and feared with no apparent enemies.

        Brady Kincaid, head of campus security at Lombardy College, is visiting on his way to a week of fishing with Claudia Packer and her family. Brady is still nurturing a passion for Claudia, and is persuaded by Claudia's cousin, Joyce Fellmeyer, to assist the local police in finding the murderer. Brady joins forces with new police officer, Alice Drinker. They discover stolen manuscripts, plagiarized books and concealed identities. Tracing the source of a distinctive fragrance at the scene of the crime, they are able to find links to the murderer.

        This is the third mystery featuring Brady Kincaid, which renews our acquaintance with the town of Early, Michigan and its inhabitants. The atmosphere of the small town is captured with all its interesting characters. We meet again the inhabitants of Early, witness their development; enjoy their interaction with each other. We have a deeper look into Brady and contemplate his decisions regarding his future job and his feelings for Camille and Alice.

      The plot is an intricate one; with the outcome left in doubt until the end. We are introduced to master perfumer, Peter Yee, a "true nose," and learn much about the profession of a master perfumer.

      An absolutely enjoyable and comfortable read with no explicit sex, no vulgar language, and no gratuitous violence.