Deadly Divots

August 4, 2003
In Breaznell's (The Star of Sutherland) undistinguished golf mystery, homicide detective Karl Kanopka investigates the murder of a detested real estate developer on the grounds of a fancy Long Island golf course. Kanopka's mechanical, by-the-numbers approach can't prevent further murders, which serve to narrow the already small field of suspects. Longings for his late wife slightly leaven the detective's cynical personality, but he loses the reader's sympathy as soon as he hops into the sack with the clichéd attractive widow of the first victim. Despite numerous cheap shots at Agatha Christie, Breaznell fails to sustain character or plot, and his sleuth's solving the crime solely by being targeted by the killer doesn't entitle him to mock the traditions of the Golden Age.

August 1, 2003
Long Island police detective Karl Kanopka leads the investigation into the murder of a snooty, much-disliked golf-club member. Suspicion falls at first on the club's owner, whom the dead guy wanted to buy out; however, everyone, from lowly caddy to eminent physician to widow, sees the killing as a blessing in disguise. Karl interrogates, snoops, misses his deceased wife, banters in golf talk, garners inspiration from an old mystery novel la Agatha Christie, and finally pares down the suspect list. Light, enthusiastic entertainment, with plenty of sport references (all explained) for aficionados and novices: recommended for mystery and sports fiction collections.

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.