Book Review: Murder, My Deer

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Murder, My Deer     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Jacqueline Girdner
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Amateur Sleuth   Cozy   Woman Main Character
Series: Kate Jasper # 11
Berkley, Mar 2000, $21.95, 275 pp.

Anyone who reads the San Marin, California local newspaper knows who the "Typhoid Mary of Death" is. She never seeks out trouble, nor does she even want to hear about homicides. However, Kate Jaspar is a magnet attracting murdered bodies. Once Kate encounters a corpse though upset, she conducts her own investigation.

Murder is the last thing Kate has on her mind. She recently married her sweetheart Wayne Caruso and wants to fully enjoy her new status. Wayne and Kate join a deer abuse support group whose members seek humanistic ways to keep deer out of their gardens. At the first meeting the newlyweds attend, the couple finds the corpse of one of the members. Everyone, even the police, hope Kate solves the case. However, she has no viable suspects and remains as perplexed and frightened as everyone else is.

Jacqueline Girdner's mysteries reflect real life where joy and elation is tempered by sorrow and death. Ms. Girdner's ability to imbue her story line with humor displays a wonderful talent, as premeditated murder is never a laughing matter. MURDER, MY DEER brings together strangers, who apparently have nothing in common, except saving their gardens. All the group members are likable and the audience hopes they prove to be innocent. These characters make the two murders seem almost surreal in nature adding to the terror to the members and the readers. Elementary that novels like this one makes amateur sleuth tales so inviting.

Harriet Klausner

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