AS THE SPARKS FLY UPWARD

by Gloria Dank ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 22, 1992

A teeth-gratingly cute hardcover introduction to the unflappable May/a, her curmudgeonly husband Bernard (a children's book writer), and her quixotic brother Snooky--who, here, invites the two to visit him at his rustic cabin sublet in Lyle, Vermont. While there, the threesome attend a dinner party at Snooky's new girlfriend's house--a party ruined when aged Aunt Irma announces her impending marriage to Bobby, a young fortune-hunter. Before Irma can change her will in his favor, however, he's dispatched in the woods and the quest is on: Which relative done it? Irma's ne'er-do-well brother? His perennially broke son? Irma's ex-sister-in-law Gertie, who has shared her house on sufferance? Or Irma herself, a crack shot, who might have learned of Bobby's philandering with a neighborhood tootsie? While Snooky concocts yet another recipe drenched in cider, and May/a coddles both her brother and her husband, Irma O.D.'s on her heart medicine, and Gertie, out tramping the woods, is waylaid and murdered. A few clues (wilis/diaries, etc.) later, the murders and the suicide are appropriately assigned, and Snooky heads for Canada while May/a and Bernard head home. Unfunny--unless you've got a high tolerance for eccentrics, whimsy, and second-rate Nick & Nora dialogue.

Pub Date: April 22, 1992

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 224

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1992

Categories: FICTION