THE LACE CURTAIN MURDERS

by Sophie Belfort ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 1986

Despite obvious intelligence, a modicum of stylishness, and potentially intriguing material, this mystery debut--offered as the first in a series to feature Prof. Molly Rafferty and Boston cop Nick Hannibal (who meet and get engaged here)--is an amateurish effort, uncommonly weak on basic storytelling craft. As we learn through pages of clumsy exposition, State Senator Mary Agnes O'Pake is a controversial politician, violently pro. IRA; and she's about to be opposed in a primary by several candidates, including Pres. Elizabeth Brewster of Scattergood College. Then, during an exhibition opening at the Boston Athenaeum, O'Pake's sister Agatha is killed by falling statuary--an assault presumably intended for the state senator. And soon thereafter Sen. O'Pake herself is indeed dead--in a shady auto accident. Whodunit? The possibilities include: the college dean, who hopes to get Brewster's job if she becomes state senator; O'Pake's primary rivals; several of her discontented employees; her bitter, overshadowed siblings; and Nell Maxwell, wife of Britain's consul-general in Boston, whose son is with the UK forces in Belfast. So, while falling in old-fashioned love, ""beautiful"" Nick and lovely Molly (a history prof at Scattergood who is Nell's dear friend) have lots of suspects to discuss. Unfortunately, however, these suspects are hardly ever allowed to appear in person--which makes for the most dreary sort of secondhand, talky narrative. And the solution is a totally unsurprising one. All in all: heavy on wry/soulful love scenes and literary allusions, light on drama and mystery--with only a bit of bland appeal in a much-watered-down Sayers mode.

Pub Date: May 1, 1986

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Atheneum

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1986

Categories: FICTION