The Balloon Man

Charlotte MacLeod produced two major cozy-mystery series under her own name, the Peter Shandy series and the Sarah Kelling/Max Bittersohn novels, of which this is the twelfth and last (MacLeod died in 2004). I've always had a sneaking preference for the Kelling series, and though this volume may not be the best of the lot (the author was 74, beginning to suffer from Alzheimer's, and probably not at the height of her powers when she wrote this last of her books), it does have all the elements that show why I like them so much. Sarah is a scion of a very old and very rich Boston clan; Max, her second husband, is an urbane but wry Jew, the son of a garage owner, and a free-lance private detective specializing in stolen and forged art. His nephew is getting married, and Sarah, along with a slew of relatives who've taken Max to their bosoms (some of the Kellings definitely haven't), has undertaken to host the wedding at their home in Ireson's Landing. The sudden and inexplicable appearance among the displayed gifts of a ruby parure stolen many years ago from Sarah's first husband is only the first of a series of unusual problems, culminating in the discovery, the following day, of a dead body in the ruins of the catering tent, under the hot-air balloon that crashed in it just as guests were beginning to depart. Since it's on their property, Max can't help but get involved. Sarah's ancient and salacious Uncle Jem (one of her favorite relatives) insists on taking a part, as does his faithful valet Egbert, and when Max mysteriously goes missing, Sarah, with their assistance, must take on the task of finding out the truth. The brief vanishment of her three-year-old son Davy makes it clear that something potentially hazardous to the entire family is going on. Filled with red herrings, wry humor, eccentric relatives (Max's sister, parents, and grandparents have their own markers, including big sib Miriam's devotion to cookery), and a few weird neighbors (not just the ballooning Zickerys, but birdwatcher Tweeters Arbuthnot, who proves critical in delivering Max from a Crusoe-esque fate), this is a delightful cozy and a definite high note for MacLeod to depart the scene on.

All of Charlotte MacLeod's books are zany and frequently require the reader to leap in joyful, but strange directions. The characters are charming if rarely life-like and that is part of the attraction. If you haven't read the books in both major series, please do. We will have no more. Ms. MacLeod is tragically "retired from writing" as a result of Alzheimer's.

Yes, we meet them all again, Sarah, Max, Davy - who is less wooden than in previous books, more alive, if not yet perfect, but then a child can't be the shrewd, hardheaded original, as MacLeod's grownups usually are - Well, to continue, Theonia and Brooks, Jem and Egbert... Anybody out there, who did not know them yet? Read the other books! Because my only point of criticism is, that this new sequel lacks the "outer world". The good ones (old aquaintances!) are good. And the bad ones don't feature as much as they used to.. I miss some uglies, like the yachtclub-crew from "The Bilbao Looking Glass" or some new convincing crazies like in "The Convivial Codfish". Does it only seem to me, that the darker side of the previous stories has faded some, because none of the now very closely woven group can be sacrificed? (Like in other books, where at least one Kelling or several other group-members die?). OK, I don't mind! From time to time I want to read books where husbands are wonderful, eternal honeymoon is the rule, creeps and crazies are either family or dealt with efficiently, - well, Charlotte MacLeod will get you hooked on that easily accessible wonderful world of her literature. And this book is one of the entrances to it!

Maceod has such a talent for zany details and irrelevant (therefore,quite realistic!) conversation that it's easy to ignore the emotional content of her mysteries. As a devoted series reader,I've always been grateful for the way the spotlight moves from Sarah & Max to others in their circle and then back again -- it keeps the series fresh, I think.This time, the focus is on Sarah & Max (and Davy) with a vengeance! The joyous confusion of Max's nephew's wedding is a grand setting for the return of an old,sad problem (set with rubies) from Sarah's first marriage. After confusion piled on confusion ("Damn it," sputtered Max, "can't we stop conversing in questions?") causes us and the characters to wish for something decisive to happen...it does...they do -- whatever! And then things don't STOP happening...MacLeod keeps the drama of real and painful emotions balanced with the melodrama of the ridiculous. The people and the plot are delicious, and although I didn't want to put it down, I wasn't afraid to go to sleep,either. Silly & scary is a great combination! The wrap-up is classic MacLeod: confection, compassion and confusion.If you're new to this series I would recommend that you read "The Family Vault" and "The Palace Guard", at least, before you tackle any of the others. My own preference would be to line 'em all up and knock 'em back one after another (Uncle Jem must be rubbing off on me), but it isn't essential...and certainly most of Sarah & Max's relatives would never be that logical!

It was fantastic that some of the loose ends from the beginning of the series were finally wrapped up. It is time to move on - forget Alexander and have a sibling for Davy. This episode was interesting and exciting and made me wish for more!!!