Book Review: The Hatch and Brood of Time

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Hatch and Brood of Time     Amazon US TPB Amazon Canada TPB
Ellen Larson
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Amateur Sleuth
Savvy, Nov.2000, $14.95, 300 pp.

In Bergen County, the Highway Beautification Crew uncovers the frozen corpse beneath the Palisades Interstate Parkway. The police think Daniel Joday is a prime suspect in the killing of the victim Lydia Dow since Daniel and Lydia dated. Daniel’s sister Natalie, a Bergen Evening Star reporter, refuses to believe her wastrel sibling could murder anyone.

Natalie knows Lydia’s sister Sarah and starting with her, begins an investigation into the wealthy family living in the castle at the top of the mount. After a childhood of learning not to trust the police, Natalie rejects the notion that law enforcement officials will seek justice. Instead, she feels her brother is a perfect sap to place blame on and it is up to her to prove his innocence. Natalie, who has no investigative experiences, begins making inquiries that places her at odds with her editor, the powerful Dow family, and the police even if she likes the sergeant on the case.

THE HATCH AND THE BROOD OF TIME is an excellent New Jersey who-done-it that will capture the reader’s attention due to its freshness. The story line centers on relationships, but not the usual kind. Instead, the tale focuses more on siblings and on parental-child than on lovers, even that between the prime suspect and the victim. This enables the audience to see different aspects of the characters, which in turn adds to the feel of a real murder case in Bergen County. Ellen Larson demonstrates her ability to hook the reader with a genuine feeling amateur sleuth tale that never lets the audience stop reading until the last page is finished.

Harriet Klausner

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