Carnage on the Committee

Read by Bill Wallis, the characters that enliven Carnage on the Committee come to life with a bright glint of gold and ne'er a hint of dross. The book is funny and bawdy. It is not the sort of mystery described by Amiss as one that could be given to an aunt to read and not be cut out of the will. Edwards flails about on all sides and makes a number of well aimed hits. Academics, Publishers and Prize Committees beware.

Although the Knapper-Warburton Committee, some of whom get bumped off, is charged with awarding a Booker-like prize and we are intrigued to find out whodunit, the real plot here is the skewering of the self-regarding posturing of figures in the academic and literary worlds. We have the Queer Studies, gender-concerned, politically correct, Derridean deconstructionist and self-invented stereotypes which might become burdensome if not for the poisonously witty pen of Dudley Wright whose lampooning is both deft and good-humored. Lady Jack Troutbeck, who insists on being called 'Madam Chairwoman' to the gasps of some of her committee members, is a real creation, one I'd love to meet in real life, although I might find myself cringing if she were to decide to puncture my own personal balloon of pretentiousness. Anyone who has ever sat on an academic or prize committee will find much that is deplorably recognizable here. The madness is all leavened by the 'bloody good guys,' as Lady Jack calls them, who bring some sanity to the proceedings. Thumbs up! Scott Morrison

Lady Hermione Babcock was the chair of the newly created already highly regarded Knapper-Warburton Literary Prize, but when she dies, a fast replacement is needed as the committee meets next week to work the long-list. Baroness "Jack" Troutbeck is asked to replace the deceased. Jack accepts the position even though she learns that her predecessor was poisoned. Jack works the members like a virtuoso, but someone else is also working the members as another death, this time by drowning occurs. While the police insist it is an accident or suicide, Jack knows better. As the chairperson, she feels she has two jobs on her plate. First and foremost finesse her committee into choosing her candidate without these morons knowing she pulled a Houdini on them. She also feels she is responsible to uncover the identity of the killer as other attempts on judges have occurred. CARNAGE ON THE COMMITTEE is a way out amusing amateur sleuth tale that uses obviously exaggerated stereotypes (including a mouthy parrot) that takes the plot over the brink, but never loses sight of the who-done-it nor the committee work. Keeping the wild hilarious tale focused is done by delightful Jack, a teriffic protagonist whose manipulation of the committee and others in her circle (even the killer) is brilliant. Ruth Dudley Edwards provides a fine tale that reader swill enjoy due to a maestro performance by a star deserving more appearances. Harriet Klausner