Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
The Merchant of Menace
Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Jill Churchill
Class/Genre: Mystery Amateur Sleuth Humorous
Series: Jane Jeffry # 10
Avon Twilight, Nov 1998, $21.00, 224 pp.
Although it is the holiday season, Jane Jeffry feels more harried than merry. On Friday night, she is hosting a caroling party. On Saturday, she is giving a cookie exchange party for the nrighborhood. On top of all that, she must meet the mother of her lover for the first time. To make matters worse for Jane, a well-meaning neighbor informs Jane that she has invited the scandal mongering reporter, Lance "The Merchant of Menace" King to cover the event and the tabloid journalist accepts the offer.
Though she prefers he did not, Lance arrives at the caroling party. Broadcasting from Jane's home, he hints to his TV audience that on his next show he will reveal a scandal here in suburbia. Later that evening, Jane looks out her window and sees Lance's body impaled on the antler of a reindeer in her neighbor's yard. The police believe a homicide occurred, as there is evidence the man was pushed from a rooftop. Jane believes that one of her guests wanted to silence Lance before his next show. As she has done before with her friend Shelly, Jane begins to investigate the murder.
The ninth entry in the Jeffry mystery series is funny, witty, and an example of how well written dialog can turn a good story line a great novel. The repartee between Jane and Shelly is some of the best interplay since Lucy and Ethel. With her jocular THE MERCHANT OF MENACE, Jill Churchill has sold the idea that suburbia can be an exciting place.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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