Claire Malloy, bookselling sleuth of the Farberville Book Depot, returns for her umpty-zillionth murder investigation (well, okay, only the sixteenth) but this time at a *shudder* Renaissance Faire!

Now seriously. Have any of y'all been to a Renaissance Faire? Have you not wished intensely for a lethal weapon and civil and criminal immunity? Milady Larchblossom and the Baron Quonsethut, oof! So as Claire snooped about, I found myself squirming in discomfort at the faux olde-tyme speak the cultists used (though not consistently, to the editor's lasting shame) and the instant sense memory of being at one of these events in Texas in heat just like Hess describes.

I can't think how anyone could *want* to don Northern European clothing from the era before central heating in the American South. My daughter, who belongs to one of these organizations and is quite renowned for her fighting prowess, will end up being Lanya (one of the characters) but hopefully with better-behaved children.

The mystery here is a murder; well, two; and the resolution was neat and tidy and strained credulity to the absolute minimum possible in a series where the sleuth is engaged to a police officer who does not chain her to her doorhandle to prevent her from messing around with crime.

I recommend this book without a blush. Newbies, start with "Strangled Prose" and move forward as haphazardly as you wish. ( )

When I'm looking for fun, mindless reading, I seek out mysteries. I was in the airport looking for a quick read, when I saw Joan Hess's Damsels in Distress on the sale table. I'd been years since I'd read a book from the Claire Malloy series. Although not my favorite characters, I was fun to see the reluctant detective do her thing. This book reminded me that I sometimes need to take a break from reading professional books, children/ya, and nonfiction. Joan Hess is a great choice, because her murder mysteries are always great leisure reading. ( )

http://hollybooknotes.blogspot.com/2009/02/mystery-monday_16.html ( )

I have always enjoyed the Claire Malloy series more than the Arlie Hanks series and this book did not disappoint. It's nice to see Claire's relationship with both Peter and her daughter Caron progressing. The mystery as always involves an unusual cast of characters. I don't feel that there are enough clues to solve the mystery however I'm so busy being entertained I don't mind. ( )