Book Review: Slow Dissolve

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Slow Dissolve     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Della (D. B.) Borton
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Amateur Sleuth
Series: Gilda Liberty # 3
Fawcett, Feb 2001, $6.50, 459 pp.

In Eden, Ohio, Gilda Liberty runs the town's independent movie house. She recovers rather slowly from the pain her lover dealt her when she deserted Gilda and left with her kids in tow with a biker. The extended Liberty family consists of a bunch of delightful eccentrics who have been involved in various aspects of the film and live stage industry. Gilda resides in the family mansion, complaining about the lack of privacy, but never bothering to relocate.

Leo Mayers enters Gilda's theater where the two meet. Gilda learns that someone has tried to kill Leo's wife Shirley by putting acid in the family swimming pool. Another attempt is made on her life. Gilda enlists the aid of private detective Styles to keep the woman safe. Meanwhile Shirley, Leo's wife, demands that Leo's oldest son (from another marriage) open the financial books, but the young man refuses to listen. The detecting duo think something is wrong with Leo's finances thanks to his sons While investigating Leo's children, Gilda and Styles seeks someone named Augie, who Leo calls for in his lucid moments.

The affect of Alzheimer's on the victim and his or her family is realistically and grimly explored as someone who knows first hand the disease's devastation. Della Barton lectures the government for doing so little to care for the elderly. On the lighter side, enthusiast of old movies will learn a lot from SLOW DISSOLVE. The story line is well crafted with the reprimand of the government slyly implied within the taut plot without slowing anything down. The characters make this who-done- a winner with a capital W.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner