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CROOKED LITTLE HOUSE, A
by Susan Rogers Cooper
Avon, January 1999
246 pages
$5.99
ISBN: 0380794691


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

This novel is less a mystery than an in-depth examination of a few weeks in the life of an entertaining and intriguing family in suburban Texas. The mystery of who murdered a young homeless woman is really the framework from which to dangle a whole housefull of family members from bright children to irascible mother-in-law.

Eloise Pugh is a romance writer. She lives in Codderville, Texas, in a home undergoing construction of a major addition. In addition to the construction workers, assorted pets, and three children plus a husband are in residence. Written in the first person, readers are treated to EJ's often delightful, practical and frequently artful coping techniques.

These are wonderful characters, created by a writer with great skill and a fine eye for detail. There just are no missteps, even among certain characters who I doubt very much are a routine part of the author's environment. EJ's family is happily preparing for the imminent high school prom of one of her charges. Their mood is abruptly shattered when EJ's errant sister-in-law is charged with the murder of that homeless woman. Never one to simply accept apparent reality, EJ determines to save her reluctant sister-in-law by finding the real murderer. EJ's path of detection becomes a wandering, twisting road of deception, doubt and several surprises. Perceptively written, well-paced, "A Crooked Little House" is a lot of fun and informative as well.

INNER PASSAGES

A SUPERIOR MYSTERY

http://www.Minnesotacrimewave.org/

Reviewed by Carl Brookins, November 2002

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