The Body in the Moonlight: A Faith Fairchild Mystery (Faith Fairchild Mysteries, 11)

Faith Fairchild, the infamous caterer, is at it again in this pageturning mystery. I found the story very good despite the reviews I just read here. I've been a fan of Katherine Hall Page books for several years and this is one of the better ones. Faith caters a mystery dinner and someone is killed supposedly by eating one of her desserts. Faith and her family get involved, as always, and it makes for a cozy mystery for any reader.

Murder comes to Aleford again, this time at a Have Faith catered dinner. Faith Fairchild must solve the puzzling murder as well as the mystery surrounding husband Tom's involvement with the deceased woman. With both her catering business and her marriage in question, Faith doggedly pursues an investigation that climaxs with her life in jeopardy. Another fine installment in this long-running mystery series.

There is a big controversy in Tom Fairchild's church. Should the church repair the steeple or the crypt? Regardless of which they decide to do, the congregation realizes that a fund-raising campaign is necessary. And who else should do the catering for the fund-raising dinner than Faith Fairchild, wife of the pastor. Faith and her assistant prepare their usual delicious meal, but everyone is horrified when one of the guests dies of poisoning after eating a Have Faith dessert. Faith immediately becomes the prime suspect because her husband Tom has been paying a lot of attention to the murder victim. There are other suspects however, including the victim's fiance and her boss. Another problem occurs when the principal of the Fairchild's son's school is accused of child molesting. After Faith does some amateur sleuthing she begins to feel that the two matters are related. When a second body turns up on Faith's lawn, things get even more confusing. Faith is invited to a meeting with one of the characters in the book and, almost too late, identifies this person as the murderer. This is another good addition to the series and the recipes in the back look delicious!

In Aleford, Massachusetts, an already fully occupied Faith Fairchild and her catering business are drafted to provide the food for an upcoming church fund-raiser. As the wife of the minister, Faith agrees to help. However, the daily alterations to the murder mystery theme by the party planner Paula Pringle frustrates the caterer.At the event everything seems to be going well except Faith feels jealous watching her husband Tom dance cheek to cheek with Gwen Lord. Still, the event is working until dessert is served and Gwen keels over dead. Someone taking advantage of the ammeretto topping poisoned Gwen. The police rule out the possibility that Faith or her Have Faith employees committed the act, but cannot find a motive. After reading about the homicide in the Globe, Faith knows her business and her professional reputation is at stake. She also realizes that rumors prevail linking Tom with Gwen. Faith begins her own brand of investigation, not yet realizing that her actions place her in danger from a maniac who will kill again.THE BODY IN THE MOONLIGHT is an enjoyable amateur sleuth tale, starring a delightful heroine in her eleventh novel. The story line is fun in a Christie like style that will please both fans of award winning Katherine Hall Page and the great icon. The deeper insight into the relationship between the heroine and her spouse provides a bonus for the long time audience and introduce newcomers to the heroine. Although the motives of the killer require a leap of faith, the well-written cozy still thoroughly entertains the reader.Harriet Klausner