Book Review: In the Spirit of Murder

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

In the Spirit of Murder     Amazon US TPB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada TPB Amazon Canada HC
Laura Belgrave
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural   Woman Main Character
Series: Claudia Hershey # 1
Silver Dagger, Feb 2000, $15.00, 204 pp.

Indian Run is a minuscule South Central Florida town where violence is rare. The last major incident occurred four years ago when a barroom brawl erupted. There is no need for a high profile big city detective but the Chief of Police still hires Claudia Hershey because he believes her presence on the force will stop the town council from merging his department with the county sheriff. Claudia, a victim of burnout, signs a one-year contract, not realizing the isolated townsfolk will not accept strangers in their midst. Thus Claudia and her daughter are ignored whenever possible.

That situation changes when someone kills spiritualist and medium Donna Overton. The victim’s face was battered into a bloody pulp. The night before she was brutally killed, Donna attended a Halloween Party hosted by a junior high school teacher. She conducted a séance that was so good (just see the tapes the police possess) that Claudia believes she spooked someone into thinking the medium had incriminating evidence. Claudia’s inquiries begin immersing her deep into her new community, but she knows a killer is still free.

IN THE SPIRIT OF MURDER is a colorful, down home and atmospheric mystery. Readers who enjoy a police procedural cozy will find Silver Dagger’s second offering to be a delightful read that is filled with action under every bush but almost totally void of gore. Laura Belgrave creates a cerebral story line that provides clues along the way so that the fan can put the puzzle pieces together to try to solve this pleasing who-done-it.

Harriet Klausner

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