Death Tidies Up

January 13, 2003
After Colley's strong series debut, Maid for Murder
(2002), featuring house-cleaning sleuth Charlotte La Rue, the author stumbles in her second outing, set in New Orleans' Garden District. A scantily clad corpse found in a closet turns out to be real-estate baron Drew Bergeron, whose funeral Charlotte attended two years earlier. This tale of blackmail, fraud and injustice offers little investigation, most of the "evidence" deriving from hindsight and gossip à la Miss Marple but without Christie's insight into human nature. Charlotte's circular musings and personal affairs serve to pad the story rather than add substance to the plot or depth to the supporting characters.
Readers tired of the Big Easy as a locale of grim police procedurals, though, may welcome this cozy approach. Agent, Evan Marshall. (Feb. 11)Forecast:The eye-catching orange jacket and impressive list of encomiums for
Maid for Murder should help ensure solid initial sales.

January 15, 2003
When her cleaning-service crew discovers a corpse, Charlotte LaRue nearly panics, then faints. She's had brushes with death before (Maid for Murder), but this investigation consolidates all her worries: the homicide detective niece she raised, the soon-to-retire detective she likes, and the fact of turning 60 and needing a check-up. Charlotte taps into the Garden District information and rumor mill for clues. After all, the dead man supposedly died two years earlier in a highly publicized plane accident. Colley's second Charlotte LaRue adventure includes a pleasant, easy-paced narrative, familiar New Orleans surroundings, and an appealingly down-to-earth sleuth. Fans of Southern cozies will enjoy.

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.