A Fatal Fiction

May 25, 2020
Dunnett’s uneven third Deadly Edits mystery (after 2019’s Clause & Effect) finds professional editor Mikki Lincoln proofreading the memoirs of Roberta “Sunny” Feldman, the last surviving member of the family that founded Feldman’s Catskill Resort. The derelict property, now owned by developer Greg Onslow, is about to be razed to make way for a call center. Mikki is aghast when Onslow confronts her at a gas station, accuses Sunny of trying to ruin him, and calls Mikki a hack. Offended by the outrageous accusation, Mikki explodes in an angry tirade. The incident is caught on someone’s cell phone and ends up going viral. When Onslow is later shot to death at his construction site, the police consider Mikki a person of interest in his murder. The plot stretches credulity, and the pacing is leisurely to the point of being tedious. But Mikki Lincoln, a savvy older woman, is sure to appeal to cozy fans, as will the picturesque Upstate New York setting. The prolific Dunnett shows signs of treading water. Agent: Christina Hogrebe, Jane Rotrosen Agency.

Narrator Margaret Strom uses solid expression to keep listeners fascinated by this fun audiobook. Editor Mikki Lincoln is at the gas station in her hometown of Lenape Hollow when developer and con artist Greg Onslow yells at her for editing the tell-all memoir of octogenarian Sunny Feldman. Accused by Onslow of sabotaging his new development with her editing of Sunny's book, Mikki responds with a tirade that goes viral, making her a prime suspect when Onslow is found murdered. Strom stumbles over some pronunciations, especially that of Lenape Hollow. One character alternates between a Maine accent and a more generic one, creating confusion for listeners. Nonetheless, Strom's portrayal of Mikki makes listeners connect with this scrappy senior citizen. V.M.G. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine