CAST A SINGLE SHADOW

A few unexpected twists and a mild bow to character development help enliven an average mystery. When Tracey and Doug's widowed mother is accused of theft by her employer, the police think the case is solved. The twins feel otherwise, and begin an investigation which is slowed by Doug's broken leg, forcing timid Tracey to carry on alone. She rounds up the usual suspects and red herrings: the mysterious stranger; the shop assistant whose alibi doesn't check out; Mr. Simms, the employer, whose business is going sour. Finding the culprit is a little more difficult than even she has envisioned: she not only has to get out from behind her dominant twin's shadow but also confront old fears stemming from ancient traumas. The solution is a surprise, except to the exceptionally astute, but Holl does lay the groundwork in the plot. Not an outstanding effort on any level, but useful for mystery collections.