MURDER AT THE PTA LUNCHEON

by Valerie Wolzein ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 23, 1988

Vast chunks of housewifey chit-chat and a plot that makes dishwater seem scintillating in comparison mark Wolzien's mystery debut. Susan Henshaw, suburban mom and mainstay of the Hancock Elementary School P.T.A., has, by virtue of happenstance proximity, a new reputation: the most likely suspect in the cyanide deaths of Jan Ick (an errant canape at the P.T.A. luncheon) and Paula Porter (a jiggered iced tea at poolside, several months later). To solve the murders, the author drags in two State Police detectives (Fortesque, male; Somerville, female) and a plethora of talk-show-type motives (drugs in our schools; women having affairs with kids; competition and friendship). Ho-hum. Soon someone takes a swipe at Susan, who doesn't even have the brains to be concussed. Hundreds of pages later, or so it seems, the murderer commits suicide, the cops explain the obvious (how the clues fit), and Susan, presumably, can go back to sorting socks. Only way the book works is as a soporific.

Pub Date: Feb. 23, 1988

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1988

Categories: FICTION