ALL THE PRETTY PEOPLE

by Jack S. Scott ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 10, 1984

One of the least comic, but most traditionally satisfying, cases thus far for apelike Detective Inspector Rosher--who saves deluded young ""leaper"" Edward Poddy from suicide. . . only to investigate Edward's death-by-stabbing a few months later. The prime suspects: crazy Edward's slimy twin cousins, who, along with posh/wild neighbor-girt Fiona Watson-Harvey, are heavy into cocaine-dealing and even counterfeit-money-dealing. It seems likely, then, that Edward got involved with the young crime-gang and had to be eliminated--a theory that's bolstered when a stash of phony cash is found in Edward's room by his religious-fanatic parents. But, while those twin cousins are definitely evil (they're poisoning their own mother), and wind up in a violent showdown with Rosher's forces, the killer turns out to be a slightly surprising Someone Else. As always, Rosher approaches the proceedings with sardonic mutterings--while Scott continues to satirize nasty class-distinctions and pathetic English-town hypocrisies and pretensions. This time, however, there's less quirkiness in the narration, less farce in the plot--which may disappoint some Rosher fans but might also win him a few new ones.

Pub Date: Oct. 10, 1984

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1984

Categories: FICTION