1986, cosy American detective fiction; third of MacLeod's novels (as
"Alisa Craig") of Madoc and Janet Rhys. After Janet is nearly killed
while trying to give assistance at a road accident, Madoc is brought
in at the other end of the case to track down stolen military
equipment.
This isn't really a "mystery" as such; apart from one obvious
false lead, quickly dropped, it's always quite clear who's involved in
the Fell Doings. The only real question is just what those fell
doings might be.
This is very much the sort of story MacLeod was writing at this point
in her career: there are lots of Wacky Locals (the setting is back in
Janet's home town, after the isolation of Murder Goes Mumming), and
hero and heroine are all over each other at the slightest opportunity
because this is Funny. After a strong start, Janet's sadly sidelined
from the actual investigation, which is mostly straightforward police
procedural.
The characters, Wacky or otherwise, are the prize here; even the ones
who could easily be played as stereotypes have some degree of subtlety
to them. There's also some surprisingly atmospheric searching of a
snow-bound crime scene.
As usual with MacLeod this is a palate-cleanser rather than anything
to be taken as serious reading. Followed by Trouble in the Brasses.
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