Death Of A Lovable Geek
By Maria Hudgins
Five Star, $25.95
ISBN: 978-1-59414-641-1

This old-fashioned mystery novel featuring Dotsy Lamb follows her debut in Death Of An Obnoxious Tourist. This time, we find her and her friend Lettie in Scotland at an archaeological dig where she hopes to find out more about her favorite Scottish king, Macbeth — the real person, not the one depicted by Shakespeare.

Unfortunately, one of the college students at the dig is found stabbed to death, and later, the head of the project dies under mysterious circumstances. All in all, these events give Dotsy plenty to think about. Are the two deaths related? And how can she clear the student’s roommate of the murder charges brought against him by the police?

It is really pleasing to read this suspenseful tale, without all the gore and graphic detail which too often can distract the reader in the mystery genre. Written simply in the first person, the narrative progresses like a traditional puzzler, which makes it enchanting. Recommended.

Review by THEODORE FEIT

©2008 Lorie Ham. All rights reserved.