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Saks and Violins
A Bed and Breakfast mystery, No. 22

by Mary Daheim



      Judith Flynn and her neighbor are exasperated with their neighbor, Rudi Wittener, a concert violinist who practices his violin at all hours, even in the nude in his garden. His mentor, Dolph Kluger, comes to visit him. Judith is asked to loan her home for a small welcoming party for Kluger. During the party, Dolph drops dead. Autopsy indicates he was poisoned by rhubarb leaves. Meanwhile Judith's cousin, Reni, reports that her credit cards have been stolen, perhaps by someone at the party.

She is frantic since the cards are maxed out and she may have to sell her home to pay off the credit cards. Adding to Judith's problems is a missing bracelet of one of the guests. Then Rudi's violin bow, valued at $350,000, is stolen. Judith tries to find a solution to these problems, but receives little help from everyone involved. She is constantly interrupted by the demands of the guests and has to stop everything to get her mother's lunch and dinner. Her husband Joe is never around.

While this is an interesting amateur sleuth novel with excellent characters, there is really too much happening, creating confusion with too many twists and turns. Juliet, really a strong person, becomes a doormat for her mother, Gertrude. Gertrude is an annoying wacky character who calls Judith insulting names and is not at all funny. She should be eliminated from future books. There are humorous references by the police to the homicide rate at Hillside Manor. Judith is involved in trying to solve all the problems at the Bed and Breakfast but she gets little help from her husband, Joe, who is always off somewhere and her cousin Renie who is too involved with her own personal problems. The results of her endeavors are surprising.

This is a quick read and good vacation fare, but nothing challenging or exciting...

The Book

William Morrow
July 28, 2006
Hardcover
0060566515
Mystery
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Excerpt
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The Reviewer

Barbara Buhrer
Reviewed 2006
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© 2006 MyShelf.com