Damsels in Distress

Joan Hess is a national treasure; her writing is humorous, mysterious, and insightful, her characters interesting and delightful, and her stories are well-designed to guide the reader effortlessly through the heroine's outlandish adventure from casual exposition to exciting finale. I have enjoyed every wonderful one of her Claire Malloy and Arly Hanks series, and when I have gone back later and read them again they were just as entertaining as they were the first time. That, I must say, elevates them above the field of "Popular Books" to the more rarified catagory of "Literature." From Claire's agonized (and agonizing) teen-age daughter Caron, and Caron's faithful sidekick Inez, to the wild and weird Buchanan family that surrounds Sheriff Arly as she dutifuly tries to solve the latest intriguing mystery, Joan Hess's characters capture the reader's imagination and admiration. Her novels are a lot like potato chips; you can't read just one!

This lastest clever mystery by Joan Hess moves you from your armchair to a college town coping with a medieval fair with a cast of characters funny but believable.

The only problem I have with this series is waiting for the next installment! Claire is planning to become Mrs Peter Rosen, finally, but before she can say "I DO" - she unwittingly becomes "Lady Clarissa of Farberville" when the first annual Ren Fair gets underway. This has all the loveable, humorous characters from earlier books, daughter Caron and her friend Inez, the sci fi hippy, and the entire Farberville police department. There were pages that were laugh out loud funny, and the book is worthy of a second read.

With her fiancé Peter, a Farberville, Arkansas police lieutenant out of town, Claire Malloy, the owner of the only bookstore in town, anticipates a quiet period with no dead bodies to trip over. Alas, her quiet time comes to an end when a Renaissance Fair comes to town. Edward Cobbinwood, known as Peter the Jester, asks her if they can set up a booth outside her shop to sell tickets and entertain the crowds with much of the money going to charity. Claire reluctantly agrees. Edward confides in her that he is looking for his father who lives in Farberville, but the man doesn't know he exists yet. Claire fears it could be her late husband's son, but Edward spitefully refuses to name names. She gets pulled into the lives of the local players when they start confiding in her or when she overhears conversation. When Angie, who is teaching a group of children how to dance like fairies, dies in an arson fire, Claire investigates since nobody except the children and Edward ever sees the recluse. At the fair, a player has an axe in his head. He was the richest person in the group and from her own investigation and overheard conversations, she has figured out who the killer is. Now she has to prove it. Joan Hess, author of sixteen Claire Malloy mysteries, outdoes herself in DAMSELS IN DISTRESS. The plot is wickedly funny and clever and the insider's look at what goes behind the scenes of a renaissance fair is fascinating. The group of players all have secrets to hide which leaves the readers wondering which one of them is the killer since they all have motives. This reviewer can't wait for the next book in the series. Harriet Klausner

As usual Hess delivers a fun mystery with the comedic timing of a true professional. Also, I'm waiting with baited breath for the next in the Maggody series. You go girl!!!