BELL, BOOK, AND SCANDAL

A writers' conference is the backdrop for this mystery surrounding a plagiarized book, an ego-bashing editor poisoned by chocolate, and a book-bashing reviewer, who is himself found bashed. Susan Ericksen perfectly captures the ambiance of a writers' conference while keeping the dialogue light. She stealthily drops clues, giving them weight without giving away the perpetrators too soon. With deadpan delivery, she makes us believe that Olga Strange and Ena Potts, recluse residents of a cabin (without electricity) in Alaska, who drive matching yellow Hummers, really do snoop, eavesdrop, and gossip their way to the mystery's solution. K.A.T. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE/JULY 05]