FAST COPY

A thin plot dealing with homicidal corruption gives some shape to this delightful novel of historical Texas color. Set in the late '30s, the mostly comic action concerns a big city journalist who returns to her rural Texas roots to take over--and improve--Daddy's newspaper. The well-researched period detail is delicious; the characters, rich; and the humor, funny. Richard Poe misses some of the jokes but otherwise gives a satisfyingly tough, ironic patina to the narrative. Y.R. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 05/ JAN 06]