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In his Simon Kirby-Jones mysteries Dean James takes us to the small English village of Snupperton Mumsley. This is Agatha Christie country, but he protagonist is neither a spinster lady of advanced year nor a Belgian obsessing about his little gray cells. Simon Kirby-Jones is not only gay, but also a vampire. Even though scientists have come up with a pill to eliminate the more unsavory vampire features, Simon keeps his status a secret. He is known as a writer of histories, but has other secrets he doesn't want known especially his best selling status as the writer of historical romance under the name of Daphne Deepwood and hard-boiled female PI novels using the nom de plume, Dorinda Darlington. When the overly loud (vampires to have sensitive hearing) Lady Hermoine Kinsale invites, or rather commands, Simon to come to her annual mystery writers' conference, he fears at first that his secret is out. But she wants him as a history expert for those "pre-published" authors who use historical settings. But what really convinces him is that listed among the authors attending is Dorinda Darlington is scheduled as one of the authors who will share her knowledge with the fledgling writers. The conference, other than the impostor, seems to be very good with many famous mystery authors most of whom are represented by Simon's own agent, Nina Yaknova, whom he describes has being a pit bull. When Simon attends the fake Dorinda's talk, he is appalled by her "performance" telling the attendees that she is obviously an impersonator because he knows the real Dorinda. He had already heard the faux Dorinda in more than one conversation that seemed to indicate she is also a blackmailer of some skill and power. It is a shock to Simon when Nina arrives and tells everyone that Dorinda is the real McCoy...or at least the real Darlington. Simon is incensed especially when his assistant Giles discovers that the fake is really is an employee of Nina's. But he can't convey his discovery until after the body of the fictitious Dorinda is found murdered. The murder of a seemingly harmless attendee who has been working and reworking an almost unbelievably bad book for a decade makes Kinsale House a very dangerous place ot be. Simon, with the help of Giles who wants more from Simon than just being his aide and the tacit approval of DI Inspector Robin Chase with whom Simon enjoys some mild flirtation, our hero strives to get to the bottom of the murders and finds enough secrets among the writers to inspire any number of mystery novels. Well written and witty, POSTED TO DEATH is a great sequel to POSTED TO DEATH. Don't let the vampire hero discourage you, it doesn't really play that much into either entry into the series. In fact, it's treated like some kind of character trait that is, in this case, quite lovable. Highly recommended for those who like English village mysteries with well placed humor and a well plotted story. I am happy that Simon is a vampire because that means he can be around for a long time. And I'm sure Dame Agatha would approve.
Reviewed by Doris Ann Norris, May 2003
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