Book Review: Halloween Murder

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Halloween Murder     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Shelley Freydont
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Theater   Senior Sleuths
Series: Linda Haggerty # 4
Kensington, Sep 2002, $22.00, 312 pp.

After an extended business trip in Europe, Lindy Haggerty is happy to be home though her husband and their daughter are in Europe and their son in Boston. The only family member around to keep Lindy company, is her son’s dirty dog. However, in a definite weak moment or perhaps the beginning of senility, Lindy agrees to direct an amateur production during the town’s Halloween carnival as part of the Mischief Night Marathon.

However, the friendly intent at the onset quickly converts into people battling over the events. Soon someone takes the squabbles up a notch with pranks based on Spencer’s Seven Deadly Sins. The antics start turning nastier and uglier until murder finally occurs. The killer turns towards Lindy as the eighth sinner worthy of death unless the retired dancer can find a different ending to this drama that allows her to voice the final coda.

The fourth Lindy Haggerty amateur sleuth mystery, Halloween Murder, is a fun who-done-it that sub-genre readers will enjoy because the plot seems real due to the bickering of the ensemble cast that makes up the Mischief Night Marathon committee. The story line engages the audience from the very beginning when Lindy, feeling like a sucker, lectures the dirty dog snoozing in her car until the final curtain call. Series fans will relish this Halloween treat while newcomers will commence with a Shelley Freydont marathon.

Harriet Klausner

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