MISS MELVILLE REGRETS

by Evelyn E. Smith ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 16, 1986

Miss Susan Melville, middle-aged artist, daughter of a once-rich, socially prestigious family, is on her uppers--no money, paintings unsold, apartment going co-op, forgotten by still-rich friends and largely ignored by anthropologist boyfriend Peter, at present studying the primitive jungle Oupi tribe, in situ. Bent on suicide, Susan decides to exercise her expertise in party-crashing, and commit the act at a benefit dinner where her smarmy landlord Mark Sanderson is to be guest speaker. But once there, she impulsively shoots Sanderson instead and is promptly recruited into the assassination team of suave Alex Tabor. Susan's money worries are soon over as she executes one target after another--all of them nasties no one will grieve over. Time passes--then her need to be recognized as an artist, a growing restiveness about her job and a public insult to her family's one-time philanthropy culminate in a final assassination that brings a happy ending to this macabre fairy-tale. Acerbic wit, polished style and a satiric eye and ear for the New York scene make for fast and funny entertainment. But suspension of moral judgments and a belief in the long arm of coincidence are advised.

Pub Date: May 16, 1986

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Donald Fine

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1986

Categories: FICTION