Colorado Springs-based gift basket entrepreneur Claire Hanover
is a lonely housewife who just wants her workaholic husband
to pay more attention to her. When a divorced friend encourages
her to have a fling with their handsome aerobics instructor,
she agrees to let him give her a massage. While she’s
sprawled out half-naked on her bed, he’s shot and
killed, and Claire’s husband Roger is caught holding
the smoking gun. Roger accuses Claire of infidelity and
claims he’s innocent. Claire, convinced he’s
being framed, vows to find the real killer before Roger
goes to trial. Claire encounters a number of characters
who would prefer she give up her amateur sleuthing and let
the police handle things, although they refuse to believe
they’ve got the wrong man. Despite making her share
of mistakes, Claire perseveres, knowing the truth is the
only thing that will save what’s most important to
her – her marriage and the man she loves.
Beth Groundwater has penned a clever, charming debut novel.
Claire is a likeable – if fallible – rank amateur
who charges ahead despite her nearly non-existent sleuthing
skills, relying heavily on the guidance of a PI friend who
talks her through interviewing suspects and even breaking
and entering at a drug-dealer’s apartment. Of course,
Claire ends up in several tight spots, managing to escape
in some instances by little more than the grace of God and
her own determination, but she learns from her mistakes
and presses on.
Groundwater’s well-crafted characters comprise a nicely
balanced cast, and she does a good job incorporating a blend
of humor and relationship drama into a deftly twisted plot
with the kind of surprise ending guaranteed to satisfy.
Quick-paced and well written with clear and comfortable
prose, A REAL BASKET CASE is a perfect afternoon read for
cozy fans
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
J.B. Thompson is the author of two novels of romantic suspense currently
in publication (www.jbtauthor.com).
In addition to conducting author interviews, she writes book and movie
reviews. J.B. blogs at “Let’s
Do Lunch – The World According to J.B.”. She lives
near Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and three teenagers
Return to Spring 2007 Table of Contents ©
2007 SPINETINGLER Magazine - All rights reserved
|
