Reviewed By Liz

ISBN 0-425-21312-9

Hurricane Homicide is billed as a Senior Sleuth Mystery, and features Kate Kennedy. It is set in a seniors condo building during hurricane season and the murder and the resolution both take place during hurricanes, which adds a nice symmetry to the story.

While I am quite a ways from being a senior citizen, I enjoyed this book. The characters are interesting, the setting is both different and interesting, and the plot is particularly noteworthy. It quickly becomes clear that many of the occupants of this condo building are from New York and share a common event in their past. I can’t reveal more without giving too much away, but I can say that you will be intrigued and impressed by the plot, in which Charles does a lovely job of weaving together fiction and historical detail.

Charles has created some great characters for us. Kate Kennedy is the widow of a police officer and plays the straight man to her childhood best friend and former sister-in-law Marlene, the flamboyant Rosie O’Grady, a retired Radio City Rockette, and Mary Frances, a former nun who is contemplating losing her virginity. When another of their neighbors is murdered during a hurricane evacuation, Kate and Marlene start to dig up the dirt on their fellow seniors and ruffle more than a few feathers. The back story on Kate is very interesting and we get to know her well as she dredges her own memories of the events of 1950 for the solution to the current murder.

Favorite character? Has to be Rosie O’Grady. Can I be her when I grow old? Did I guess it? Nope. Will I read another? Absolutely.

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2007

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