SHADOWDANCE

by Agnes Bushell ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 30, 1989

The Womansleuth series continues with first-novelist Bushell's soundly plotted, stodgily written tale featuring former New Yorker Johanna Wilder, now a Maine p.i. Johanna agrees to keep an eye on the Portland Feminist Alliance just in case--they're expecting two Russian dissident feminists, and there may be reprisals. She soon corrals a graffiti splatterer, then heads for New York and the ballet (and her past: she used to dance), where a performer is poisoned on stage; a garbled message in Russian is left on his dressing-table mirror; and a Maine feminist's brother becomes a likely suspect--he lost roles to the now-dead defector. Soon Johanna's ricocheting through the Russian dissident community in search of clues; there's another death; threats; hints of KGB dupes and decoys; a tie-in to Portland, and a secret appearance that's hushed up. Meanwhile, paranoia is rampant, and before Jo can bring down the curtain, she must call for help from her dead ‚migr‚ father's cadre. Somewhat pedestrian approach to the ballet world, but the Russian human-rights denials ring true, and Jo's emotional ambivalences seem real. If only better written, the book could be a smasher.

Pub Date: June 30, 1989

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Crossing Press

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 1989

Categories: FICTION