Some Like it Hawk [by] Donna Andrews
New York; Minotaur Books [2012]
978-1-250-00750-6; $24.99
Caerphilly, Virginia has a new claim to fame as “the Town That Mortgaged Its Jail.” First Progressive Financial (FPF) – known to the townspeople as “the Evil Lender,” has foreclosed on all of the town’s public buildings and all of the employees have evacuated, save one. The Town Clerk, Phineas Throckmorton, has barricaded himself in the Courthouse basement, guarding the archives.
Most of the town’s inhabitants – the notable exceptions being members of the family named Pruitt (which includes the previous mayor, who absconded with town funds) – are in on the secret of the pre-Civil War tunnel that runs under the town square to the basement of the Courthouse. This tunnel is the way Mr. Throckmorton has been provisioned for the year he has been barricaded.
The town has had a celebration of itself all summer long: performances at the bandstand, right over the tunnel, have included cloggers; a local metal band called Rancid Dread; high-heeled Morris Dancers called Molly in Chains; Irish step-dancers; a calypso band; a polka band; and a dramatic production of the history of the United States (with special emphasis on the wars) – all loud enough to cover the activity in the tunnel. When she is not demonstrating her blacksmithing skills for the visitors, Meg Langslow is often the guard at the outer door of the tunnel. The town artisans are demonstrating their skills and selling their wares around the square. The local churches are feeding the visitors, and the town is trying desperately to raise enough money to replace the funds “borrowed” by ex-mayor George Pruitt.
The Evil Lender is also considering taking over the property belonging to Meg and her husband and her parents in order to build a golf course and country club, as well as condo complexes. Meg has finally gotten her house in order and they have built the library of their dreams – although it is currently housing the town’s public library, also foreclosed upon.
Reporters come to cover the festival and the town situation. The current mayor invites Meg to go along with him and the reporter and her camera-man to see the abandoned Courthouse and his visit with Mr. Throckmorton. Each month he visits to convince the Town Clerk to leave his post in an effort to impress the Evil Lender’s minions, most particularly the security service, referred to by the locals as “the Flying Monkeys.”
But then shots ring out in the basement and the group runs downstairs to discover a woman sprawled on the floor, shot in the throat. She was a Vice-President at FRF named Colleen Brown. The only clue seems to be the murder weapon, found by one of the Flying Moneys, between the barricade built by the Evil Lender and the one built by Mr. Throckmorton. Automatically Mr. Throckmorton is suspe4cted, but he has an alibi – sort of – they just can’t talk about it, because it will reveal the tunnel.
But something seems to be going on with the Evil Lender. There are many more people around, including a private eye, who disappears. Word also comes to the town that the ex-mayor is no longer in Mexico, where he had supposedly gone. The townspeople get their very sweet revenge and the Evil Lender gets in real trouble. And we readers are laughing our heads off through the entire tale. If you haven’t read one of these mysteries, you are in for a treat! Highly recommended. ~ lss-r
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My book.
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