Cheating at Solitaire

On beginning to read Cheating at Solitaire, I was disconcerted to see that about 50 pages were shorter than the rest. When I got to that part of the book, I realized that 1 to 4 lines had been cut off each page. While it was a challenge to imagine what the lines said, I think that the seller should have noted this. The book itself is up to the Gregor Demarkian standard, and I'm particularly enjoying the sly views on fame and People, Us etc. magazines,

Gregor Demarkian is back, called by an old friend to aid a murder investigation. The victim is a hanger-on among movie stars, or what pass these days for movie stars. The murder takes place in a snowstorm, a heavy nor'easter on an island that the reader will quickly identify as Martha's Vinyard. Haddam explores the nature of stardom and celebrity, and how different people react to them. I found the characters believable, if a bit shallow. But then the point is that many of them are shallow. As Gregor investigates, events unfold to muddy the waters. Papparazzi are on hand to interfere with the investigation, culminating in one scene that is definitely over the top. The solution is satisfying; it violates some "golden age" mystery conventions, but rationally and to good effect. One can also find hubris and nemesis in part of the story, which provides a question: is a mystery better when one grieves for the murder victim or cheers for the killer? This is one of Jane Haddam's better mysteries. I do not place it in the same rank as Precious Blood or A Stillness in Bethlehem, but it certainly matches Quoth the Raven and Act of Darkness. That is good company.

Cheating at Solitaire made me regret that Jane Haddam's Demarkian novels are so far apart. We will have to wait a little longer for the detective's wedding. We don't have a true serial killer story but a genuine modern mystery worthy of the golden age. Set on a thinly disguised Martha's vineyard Haddam takes on the world of pop stars and their groupies. I had to keep reading but I wanted to read slowly so the story wouldn't be over. It kept me puzzled until the very end. Wesley Hromatko

When Gregor Demarkian is asked to come to Martha's Harbor to investigate the murder of a young man attached to a film crew, nothing in Gregor's background prepares him for what he finds. The usually quiet private island has celebrities and media people everywhere. Whereas the locals have little use for the media, and the rich summer people shun publicity of any kind, the film people crave media attention-often doing outrageous things just to generate news. Then a local photographer is attacked, and a summer resident who was hanging around with the film people ends up dead, too. While there are many rivalries among the crew, there seems to be very few real motives for murder. Eventually Gregor realizes that in spite of the glitz and glamour, the motives for murder remain the same regardless of class. This is essentially a "country house" mystery. The key players are on an island cut off from the mainland by a storm when the first murder is committed, so the potential suspect list is limited. It won't take readers long to mentally substitute Martha's Vineyard or Bar Harbor for Martha's Harbor, or celebrities such as Britney Spears or Paris Hilton, for the main characters. The book is as much a commentary on our society's celebrity worship and celebrities 'extravagant lifestyles as it is a mystery. While Haddam shows the lack of connection to real life of these celebrities (many are high school dropouts-and don't wear underwear), she also reminds readers about the differences in Gregor and Bennis's backgrounds and how differently they view the world. Bennis Hannaford, is a member of a Philadelphia Mainline family--a family much like the summer rich on the island. Bennis's family is as removed from Gregor's background as the summer people are from the locals on the island. Fans of Haddam's series should be pleased not only with this book as a mystery, but the with glimpse into Gregor and Bennis's personal relationship. Armchair Interviews says: Readers unfamiliar with the series will have no trouble enjoying this book.

In Philadelphia Gregor Demarkian and Bennis Hannaford are planning to marry after seeing each other exclusively for quite some time. However, the wedding preparation demands are driving the sleuth crazy. He considers eloping, but his beloved Bennis is looking forward to the ceremony celebrated with their family and friends. Thus when he has an opportunity to escape to New England to work on a high visibility homicide, he does not need a second invitation; Gregor informs Bennis that whatever she does re the nuptials in his absence is acceptable by him as he leaves town immediately for Margaret's Harbor. Famous celebrity Arrow Normand and her boyfriend of the moment Mark Anderman were filming on location when she was murdered during a nasty nor'easter. Normand was arrested for the murder. CHEATING AT SOLITAIRE is a terrific whodunit as the hero struggles with a case involving pseudo and 15 minute celebrities; a sub-species he does not understand. Gregor's difficulties with what makes the shallow in-crowd tick turn this into a superior entry in a strong series, as he cannot find a reliable motive for the homicide while also working a couple of other investigations. Harriet Klausner