DEATH OF A DUNWOODY MATRON

Another case for Atlanta's Sheila Travis—widow, amateur sleuth, and business exec, egged on by her indomitable Aunt Mary (Somebody's Dead in Snellville, etc.). Here, Sheila's nephew Amory is visiting from out of town, and a chance encounter brings them an invitation to a party at Mac And Rilla Marriot's home in lush, plush Dunwoody—where Sheila meets Walter Delacourt, unseen since high school, and his adored, gorgeous, sugary wife Yvonne. Days later, Yvonne is found by Walter, stabbed to death in their guest room. Walter's the prime suspect of icy Police Captain Drake. Sheila, of course, knows he's innocent and takes his small stepson Forbes to stay with Aunt Mary and her faithful retainer Mildred. (Walter's father is an old friend of Mary's). She then sets about interviewing all the neighbors, most of whom have something to hide. Yvonne, though, had more to hide than anyone—like a couple of previous marriages and a bank account in the millions. Lots of inane chatter and much erratic behavior by all before the windup of an amiably readable story—mercifully if marginally less treacly than its predecessors.