Bowled Over

Starred review from August 27, 2007
In this entertaining sixth Maggie Kelly mystery (after 2006's High Heels and Holidays
), the scatterbrained mystery novelist faces a more dysfunctional family Christmas than usual. Just before leaving New York, Maggie breaks her foot, and then hobbles home to suburban New Jersey only to see her father arrested for murder. Local lothario Walter Bodkin has been found dead, and the weapon of choice was a bowling ball engraved with Maggie's father's initials. Maggie is sure that her father is innocent, but to get to the bottom of this murder, she'll have to learn more than she wants to know about her mother and sister's extracurricular activities, which definitely go beyond bowling. Her siblings aren't giving her much assistance, but droll, charming Alex, the hero of Maggie's books come magically to life, is there to keep her anxieties in check. Fans of romantic cozies will find this light read a welcome escape from their own holiday stress.

October 1, 2007
In versatile and prolific Michaels latest installment in the funny and clever series about historical mystery writer Maggie Kelly, her protagonist feels that shehas achieved everything she hoped to, sort of. She has escaped her critical mother, found literary success, and established a life in Manhattan. But lots of curious things have happened, not the least perplexing of which is the mysterious appearance in the flesh of the two main characters in her books, Alex Saint Just and his sidekick Sterling Balder. Now part of her actual daily life, they contribute to the chaos that causes her to break her foot just beforea dreaded Christmas visit with her family in New Jersey. To further complicate things, Maggies father is arrested for the murder of the local lothario. It takes a mystery writer and her free-from-the-page characters to solve the crime, and maybe even bring peace to the Kelly household. An impressive addition to a series that perfectlyblendsmagic, mystery, and comedy. MichaelsMaggie Kelly books are becoming addictive.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)