Mrs. Malory and the Only Good Lawyer

No sex and only the barest necessary minimum of violence. Nothing about the social problems of our age, except a hint of religious controvery about a vicar who uses the old style prayerbook. Lots of old British theatre (?theater) lore. The author was an associate of Barbara Pym and it's that type of world. Sort of updated Agatha Christie, although not up to Agatha Christie's standards of plotting. It won't make you think or change your life - just enjoy a few hours.

Fun, well written, easy to read. Mrs. Malory is thoroughly likable. It's a treat to be in her world for a few hours.

The late Peter Malory first met fellow solicitor Graham Percy in law school. The compassionate Peter could never refuse his fussy old school mate when Graham would weasel an invitation out of him to come visit. Now that Peter is dead, his spouse Sheila has inherited Graham's annual visit to her home in Taviscombe. Several days into his four day stay, Graham is murdered and Sheila, feeling responsible for the well being of a guest, decides to investigate. She immediately learns that there was a bit more to Graham than a failed and boring attorney. It seems he had a very lucrative blackmailing scheme operating on the side. She also learns that the odd duck annually visited three other school chums. Sheila figures they are primes suspects. A second murder in town has Sheila picking up the pace in an effort to uncover the identity of the killer before someone else is hurt. MRS. MALORY AND THE ONLY GOOD LAWYER, the eighth novel in the Mrs. Sheila Malory series, is a well written English cozy, highlighted by the charming lead protagonist. However, though the story line quickly moves forward, the audince is going to find the ending a bit abrubt because no clues for motives occur until the final explanation. Still, Hazel Holt scribes a fabulous mystery that will please fans of the series. Harriet Klausner