Трейси Кили: Murder on the Bride’s Side

Loosely modeled on Sense and Sensibility, Kiely s pleasing second cozy to feature Jane Austen fan Elizabeth Parker (after 2009 s Murder at Longbourn) may be short on plot, but is well populated with lively characters, in particular genteel Southerners. The morning after Elizabeth s best friend s wedding in Richmond, Va., the bride s aunt turns up with a knife in her ribs. Many members of the wedding party are suspect, but when a diamond necklace is found in Elizabeth s room, the police focus their investigation on her. For reassurance, Elizabeth looks to «Elinor Dashwood s almost transcendental calm in the face of chaos.» Armchair sleuths will enjoy following the clues up to the surprising d&#233,nouement. The most shocking thing in this fun, featherlight read is that these Southerners persist in calling the bride s grandmother by her first name without the courtesy of a «Miss» in front of it.