Busy Bodies: Claire Molly Mystery

By Joan Hess


Published By: Minotaur Books

Mortified, outraged and shocked are words that could easily describe Zeno Gorgias’ neighbors. Of course, he brought it on himself with his front lawn display of what he calls “interactive environmental art.” His latest work involves a barely clad woman strolling in his makeshift cemetery beside the centerpiece, a coffin. This cemetery is by no means a peaceful one. Loudspeakers boom sexually explicit sounds to the ever-gathering crowd.

Claire Malloy is having a cup of tea at the home of Miss Parchester, one such neighbor of the boisterous artist. The unconventional Miss Parchester feels Zeno is just exercising his right of expression, but Claire finds it hard to believe that the man in her life, Lieutenant Peter Rosen, can do nothing to shut down the three-ring circus that is creating such high emotion among the Willow Street residents.

Just when the situation seems at its pinnacle, a dead body is found in the notorious coffin-and this time it is not part of the artistic experience. Claire must find out just exactly who among the long list of angry suspects committed the crime while still keeping her sanity and her man.

I found the characters in this book quirky and outlandish, making it a very interesting read. One such character, Claire’s wisecracking daughter, adds substantial stress to the situation as only a teenager can do. It made me want to pour a glass of wine for Ms. Malloy and toast to her motherly resilience.

Busy Bodies is the tenth Claire Molly Mystery by Joan Hess, and it is a comical jaunt down the whodunit trail.

To further whet your appetite, included in the book is a first chapter sneak peak to number eleven in the series, Akin to Murder.

Originally reviewed for Armchair Interviews