A PARTY FOR THE SHOOTING

Femininely styled- and for this reader that is a recommendation, since there is perhaps more background and human interest than straight detecting in the current hard-boiled style. The setting is the Colburn-Fane manor house, open on certain days to the public to help keep up the estate in the face of higher costs and smaller incomes of England's landed gentry. For some of the public, an ancient murder was a special attraction -- but they didn't bargain on a modern murder and its aftermath. Julia Tyler of Virginia and her attractive niece were among the visitors- and this was duck soup for Aunt Julia, who revelled in murder mysteries. Just how she becomes a focal point around which everything seems to happen provides brisk entertainment for all but the ill-fated victims.