Foul Play at the PTA

May 16, 2011
In Agatha-finalist Alden's well-crafted second PTA whodunit (after 2010's Murder at the PTA), PTA secretary Beth Kennedy, a 41-year-old divorced mother of two and owner of a children's bookstore, and PTA president Erica Hale are disconcerted to find fellow PTA member Sam Helmstetter strangled in his car in the Tarver Elementary parking lot after a PTA meeting. Who would want to murder the nicest guy in Rynwood, Wis.? Aided by lovably flaky BFF Marina Neff, Beth again turns amateur sleuth. When she's nearly run down by a vehicle used in an attempt on the life of Sam's business partner, Beth knows she's on the right track. Meanwhile, Beth hiring a new bookstore employee, who happens to be a convicted murderer, albeit innocent and exonerated, creates problems. Only Beth's allowing a poisoning victim to go without medical attention while assisting in the final chase strikes a wrong note in this clean cozy.