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One oft-reported hazard of the "amateur sleuth" novel is the whole "how to get the amateur sleuth involved" dilemma. The vast majority of people never encounter dead bodies, clues, or even cops and weapons as we go about living our lives. So while avid readers let it pass, and we accept the hard-to-believe set-ups, it's a pleasure to find a book where this is done well. This new book is by an old hand. Sheila Simonson has written a solid series of mysteries featuring Lark Dodge. Now she's back with a new and equally appealing protagonist, librarian Meg McLean. Meg has decided to make a major change and after selling a house that she inherited from her aunt, she moves from Southern California. With her daughter starting Stanford, she's taken a new position as Head Librarian of a county regional library, after she fell for the charm of a small Washington town. After driving her belongings into town and finding a friendly if nosy neighbor who gives her advice on moving, Meg does a walk-through in house and garage. She's concerned that there's a bad smell in the garage and then, when next door neighbor Rob Neill comes by. he immediately realizes something is very wrong. Okay, yeah, Rob's a cop and Meg's a librarian, but she bears real resemblance to real librarians I've known (not that fussy stereotype that drives most of us mad) and Rob's more than just a police officer. The story here is an intriguing one. As the bodies pile up (okay, I exaggerate) we learn that Rob is still haunted by his failure, ten years ago, to solve a case involving stolen Indian artifacts. He still has to face the Klalo tribal leaders, especially Chief Madeline Thomas, but he hasn't given up. Those artifacts, sacred objects to this tribe, seem to be resurfacing. That Chief Thomas "deputized" some of the younger tribe members to keep an eye out for the items doesn't help. This choice might have put some of the tribal young people in jeopardy as it now appears that someone might have been killed to cover up the theft. While BUFFALO BILL'S DEFUNCT might do as just a good solid mystery, it's above that. Its charm and wit began for me with the title, from a favorite e.e. cummings poem. And happily, the characters are articulate and smart. You know they'd know that poem. At one point, Rob apologizes to Meg, saying "that's gauche" "Gauche!" He uses real words, and knows what they mean. Meg offers up skills, smarts, and opinions and avoids the "I just want to be nosy" excuse that too many amateur detectives seem to rely on. I like Meg's sense of humor (she mutters "Had I but known" in semi-serious despair when she realizes something bad has gone down in her garage). One factor influencing Meg's move to this town is Hazel Guthrie, whom Meg cites as her hero for dealing with attempts at library censorship. Hazel was Rob's grandmother. These are erudite folks, not the sort of run-of-the-mill cutesy small town gossips that tend to populate too many "small town" mysteries that are long on quaint and short on originality. The bad guys might be a tad typical, but they're wrought well and they have clear motives for the evil that they do. While there are numerous characters in this story, they all well described, have personalities that make it easy to set them apart quickly. I had a bit of trouble with the narrative voice; at times it seemed to be coming from Meg (though to be clear, the book is told in third person) but switched around a little. Minor stuff. The book reminded me of another series published by Perseverance - Janet LaPierre's Port Silva books, which feature strong settings and independent minded and intelligent protagonists dealing with the issues that crop up in the Pacific Northwest - immigration, native rights, development, and the natural beauty of the place. This is meant as nothing but praise. I'd be happy to read several more books featuring McLean and hope this is the promising first book in a planned series. I'd like to spend more time with them in their town of Klalo, part of fictional Latouche County. You should go there. I recommend a trip.
Reviewed by Andi Shechter, November 2008
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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