THE GEEZER FACTORY MURDERS

Camden-sur-Mer is the prettiest, poshest, most begardened and beservanted retirement community in the vicinity of El Paso. It's certainly nicer than nearby, overregimented Golden Years, an establishment that old friends and Camden residents Caledonia Wingate (large, domineering) and Angela Benbow (tiny, persistent) have dubbed (for its deleterious effect on its inmates) the Geezer Factory. Following several defections from the latter to Camden- sur-Mer, the sleuthing buddies notice a crime wave beginning in the form of a defenestration and then a death-by-hammer. Geriatric favorite Lieutenant Martinez allows Cal and Angie to investigate with a benign lack of professionalism we haven't seen since Attorney-at-Law Carson Drew handed daughter Nancy the keys to the roadster. Camden comings and goings are collated, and the plot turns out to hang on a cat, a dog, and a takeout pizza. The murderer's motive involves corruption and personal gain, but it's nothing Caledonia can't handle between naps. This seventh in a seemingly popular series (Ho-Ho Homicide, 1995, etc.) pursues the cozy whodunit to its ultimate conclusion: A meaningless puzzle in an intensely constricted, rather airless environment. It would require the comic skills of a P.G. Wodehouse to give this series some salutary life, and such skills are not evident here.