The Wedding Game: A Mystery at the University of Michigan

I think I've been on the Internet as long as Anneke, and I've been hanging out in chat rooms and listserves since before point and click. I even played Adventure on my TRS 80 with its tape drive. So yes, I enjoyed the nostalgia of much of this setting, especially the Adventure interactive text game quotes and references. And I related to the listserve interaction and the flame wars and other background devices that Holtzer used in the novel. But as a good mystery novel....not exactly. The characters were thin, and the ending was disappointingly abrupt. And really, it's pretty hard to stir up much feeling for a mystery which is solved by e-mail with the help of a couple of geeks and a suspended cop fiance. It's an entertaining afternoon read...but by no means a first class mystery novel.

My mom took this book out of the library. The whole time she read it she said, "When I'm done, you're going to LOVE this book!"So she finished it.I read it in one sitting.I wish it were out in paperback now; I'd buy a dozen or more copies and send them to all my friends.This is a well-written mystery. It wasn't so detail-oriented as to make the reader clutch his head in one hand and an Excedrin in the other -- yet I could visualize what was going on. The characters were fun but not frivolous.Most amazingly, from my years on newsgroups, I could TOTALLY IDENTIFY with the online personae. This makes this book very real.I highly recommend it.Again, my mom was right

Ann Arbor police lieutenant Karl Gensko and computer programmer Anneke Haagen are marrying in a week, but neither feels totally happy since they are prime suspects in an ongoing homicide. A mail bomb killed Vince Mattus, a person belonging to the Internet list Game Spinner. Near the victim's computer was a note that named seven of the players including Anneke under the ominous header "The Black Mail Game. "The Ann Arbor police department forces Karl to go on extended leave because he is a prime suspect due to his relationship with Anneke. However, neither Anneke nor Karl can stand to sit idle while the FBI conducts the investigation. They want their names cleared before they go on their honeymoon, so they conduct a bit of sleuthing that places them in danger of becoming the next victims.Anyone who has participated on-line will want to read THE WEDDING GAME. Anyone who has not, but reads this exciting realistic novel, will want to join a discussion group. Susan Holtzer has written her best Haagen tale to date as she uses the sub-plot of the upcoming nuptials to provide humor and insight into the lead couple. The unique mystery has an intriguing twist since most of the characters have never met outside of cyberspace. This plot device works because of Ms. Holtzer's strong storytelling abilities.Harriet Klausner