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Maggie King makes her debut as a novelist with MURDER AT THE BOOK GROUP, which is described as "a fun and sassy cozy mystery" set in Richmond, VA. We are introduced to Hazel Rose, a widow and writer of steamy romance novels who moved from California five years earlier to share a home with her cousin Lucy, who is also widowed, and their two cats. Richmond was also the home of Hazel's first husband, Evan Arness. Initially, Hazel had entertained hopes that they might get back together. However, by the time she actually made the move, Evan had met and married his current wife, Carlene after a whirlwind courtship.
The tale begins at the funeral of Carlene Arness. Hazel had remained friendly with her ex and his new wife; so friendly that she and Carlene had co-founded the Murder on Tour book group. We follow Hazel as she recalls the meeting of the book group where most of the major characters are introduced, and Carlene mysteriously died. Was it murder or suicide? As the story unfolds, we learn that every member of the book group may have had a motive for wanting to do away with Carlene, who seemed to have a penchant for stealing other women's boyfriends – even her own step-sister's.
And Hazel has her own motive which she would just as soon keep from the police – her ex-husband Evan Arness recently confided that he and Carlene had separated. He then made romantic overtures to Hazel herself. And even if Hazel wasn't a suspect, Evan might certainly be.
Included in the cast of characters is Linda, a stranger who insists she knew Carlene from her former home in Los Angeles; Carlene was equally insistent that she didn't remember her.
There were plot twists and turns galore, a variety of red herrings, and a healthy dollop of romance/inexplicit sex before the mystery is solved. The plot may be a little too contrived for some readers, and there were too many characters for this reader; we didn't find out enough about the major players, including Hazel Rose, to form satisfying connections with them. One example: she has a somewhat complicated relationship with Vince Castelli, a retired homicide detective. They were sometimes friends, sometimes lovers. He is an important character, yet is not fleshed out sufficiently in the book so that we can understand their bond.
A more critical flaw was that there was a disconnect between the lighthearted tone of the book and the murder of someone who might have been considered a friend.
This book will probably have a lot of appeal to people who are in book clubs. As a card-carrying book club member myself, I now wonder about the secrets my fellow book clubbers may be keeping.
§ Phyllis Onstad has been a writer, editor, civil servant, teacher and voracious reader. She currently lives in the California wine country.
Reviewed by Phylllis Onstad, November 2014
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