Biggie and the Poisoned Politician: A Mystery

Finalist 1996 Agatha Award for Best First Novel. I love these cozy mysteries set in a small town in East Texas.

Nancy Bell's Biggie and the Poisoned Politician is the first in her Dead Letter Mysteries. It is narrated by J. R. Weatherford, a 12-year-old who lives in Job's Crossing, Texas, with his grandmother, Mrs. Fiona Wooten Weatherford, aka Biggie. Ms. Bell creates an authentic voice for J. R. who reports on words and activities of adults without understanding them, in much the same way as Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird and Huck in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This is exalted company for a mystery writer's creation. The characterization of the novel is also strong. Biggie and J. R. are well developed, but a particular strength is the secondary characters--Willie Mae, who is a voodoo woman as well as Biggie's maid; Rosebud, her husband of the tall tales; Monica, J. R.'s friend who has hair only on one side of her head because she was placed too close to the fire when she was a baby. The townspeople, especially the Daughters (of the Texas Revolution), are individual and authentic, as is the depiction of how things are still done in small Southern towns. The language and the storytelling rhythm are genuine. The plot isn't as strong, though Ms. Bell is fair in giving the appropriate clues. Once it becomes clear what's happening (discovery of lignite coal on Biggie's land and the attempt to acquire the land). the perpetrators are fairly obvious. But the plot is not the reason for reading this mystery--it's J. R. as narrator. I recommend Biggie and the Poisoned Politician highly.

The first book in the Biggie series starts with a bang. A car belonging Biggie's boarder explodes, the mayor dies after a town meeting, and Biggie has to deal with someone trying to put a landfill on her property. The story is told in the narrative of Biggie's 12-year-old grandson, J.R., and makes you laugh out loud at times. This is a good mystery, but I enjoyed it better for the strength of the characters, the setting, and the relationship between Biggie and J.R. A fun, easy read for a hot summer day. Enjoy!

Nancy Bell has become my favorite mystery writer. After reading this absolutely charming book, I had to buy the other three books by her. I was not disappointed! I am anxiously awaiting for number five, Biggie and the Quincy Ghost. I have been an avid mystery reader for over forty years, and I can honestly say Nancy Bell is at the top.

This story is told from the perspective of "Biggie's" 12 year old grandson - and a unique perspective it is. Those who like a rural setting with rich and unique characters will enjoy this book. The mystery is interesting, but the humor and collection of characters is what makes this book worth the time to read.