Book Review: Simon Said

Reviewed By: Carl Brookins - RAM

Simon Said     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Sarah R. Shaber
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Amateur Sleuth   Academic
Series: Professor Simon Shaw # 1
1997, St. Martins Press, 216 pages

What a nice traditional mystery! This is author Shaber's first, and it's a good one. The characters are very interesting and well -conceived. Readers will learn a good deal about a number of interesting, if not terribly unusual characters. The academic and southern small town environment is nicely drawn, and the diminutive protagonist, Dr. Simon Shaw, is an individual who quickly grows on one.

The story concerns the discovery of the body of a woman missing since 1926. It looks like she's been shot. Simon Shaw, professor of history, possessed of an extremely good memory, is quick to identify the woman. His curiosity peaked, Shaw becomes mildly obsessed with learning more--why was she killed? Who did it? What really happened so long ago? So this is a procedural, though not a police procedural.

The logical, step by step actions, aided by the local police department soon puts Shaw in danger. Shaw's intelligence, his natural emotional turmoil, play out well against the setting. And if his modern antagonist is not a well-kept secret, the strong writing, the logical development and conclusion leave the reader well -satisfied. I look forward to more stories from Ms. Shaber.

Carl Brookins - RAM

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