Mummy Dearest - Joan Hess

Category: Adults, Humor, Mystery
Language: English
Keywords: Claire Malloy Cozy Mysteries

Written by Joan Hess
Read by C. J. Critt
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 64 Kbps
Unabridged

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
The Claire Malloy Mystery, book 17
Release date: April 15, 2008
Duration: 11:55:01

Claire Malloy—Arkansas bookseller and widowed mother—after a somewhat long and, at times, strange courtship has finally said, “I do” to her swain, Lieutenant Peter Rosen of the Farberville Police Department Now they are on their honeymoon in Luxor, Egypt.

That is, Claire is on her honeymoon—accompanied by Caron, her teenaged daughter, and Inez, Caron’s best friend and frequent partner in adventure. Peter is mostly away on various mysterious consultations with equally mysterious government agencies for his new mysterious job.

Claire is intent on a quiet, uneventful honeymoon, but things go from bucolic to creepy, when persons unknown chase Caron and Inez through darkened deserted alleys, and a student of their acquaintance is kidnapped by two young men on horseback in a scene reminiscent of a Valentino film. Something is clearly afoot in this tourist paradise, and Claire will stop at nothing to find out what it is.

This not the best book of the series but C. J. Critt’s narration makes it enjoyable… Critt’s sharp reading style is a good match for this funny, sometimes even silly, cozy. In this story only a few characters are who they purport to be, so listeners will enjoy puzzling out not only whodunit, but also the real identity of each masquerader. Critt makes listeners believe she is personally involved in the story and ratchets up the intensity as people are kidnapped and Claire investigates. Together Critt’s evocative narration and talent for accents create a convincing listening experience.