Crushing Crystal: A Jane Stuart and Winky Mystery

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Summary: A LITTLE BIT OF MERRIMENT AND MURDER
Review:
Who says you can't mix a little merriment with your murder? Certainly not Evan Hunter, imaginative author of the Jane Stuart series (Missing Marlene, Hanging Hannah, Stabbing Stephanie, Icing Ivy, and Toasting Tina.)

As is his wont Marshall has aptly titled his latest adventure as Crystal meets her maker when she's crushed under a mountain of books and shelves. To say that she's the dearly departed would not be quite accurate because few considered her dear. Our heroine considers Crystal "the most maddening, meddling know-it-all whom Jane had ever met." However, she couldn't turn down the sister of her friend and nanny when she needed a place to stay. It's been the longest 14 days of Jane's life, but at last Crystal is removing herself to her own apartment.

Of course, Crystal can't help with the move - she fears an asthma attack. So Jane and nanny Florence do the lifting and hauling. Typical of Crystal who seems to have been gifted with a jumbo size amount of superiority and a love for unfounded gossip which she spreads with asperity and glee. No, it seems Crystal will not be missed.

But, a great deal more shocking than a wall to ceiling bookcase tumbling over is the discovery by Jane's boyfriend Detective Stanley Greenberg that the bolts holding the bookcase upright had been removed. Murder! There are several who have motives, and Jane can't resist her usual urge to investigate.

Curiosity, it seems, can not only harm cats but it might also do Jane in.

Hunter serves his usual cast of likable characters including lovable felines Winky and Twinky. Those who enjoy their mysteries ala Miss Marple will relish "Crushing Crystal."

- Gail Cooke

Rating:
Summary: I love Winky!
Review: Evan Marshall does it again! He's written another fun cozy that had me fooled to the very end. Good job!

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Summary: Who crushed meddlesome Crystal?
Review: Jane is happy to see her nanny's sister, Crystal Ryerson, moving out. In the two weeks she's been assistant director at the public library, she has meddled into everyone's business. She is definitely not popular. Plus she has also meddled in other people's lives due to gossip she has heard. Nothing good comes from her meddling.

Jane's reading group meeting at the library has to stop their meeting with library shelves and books come crashing down on Crystal. Jane's boyfriend, Detective Stanley Greenberg, discovers that the bolts holding the bookshelf up had been deliberately removed. Everyone at the library becomes a suspect, especially those who had gone into the back room before the shelf came crashing down.

Many of the people Crystal had meddled in their lives were at the library at that time. So not only do they have means, they have motive. Then things become more confused when a beautiful teenager who worked at the library is found dead in the woods. Next two more girls go missing. Jane is no longer positive that the meddling had anything to do with Crystal's death.

Jane is a literary agent. She has many interesting clients, including Goddess-a pop star who had written a book (with the help of a ghost writer). Goddess ends up asking Jane for a favor. After Jane says yes, she begins to regret it.

Plus Jane can't resist trying to figure out who murdered Crystal, especially since she promised her nanny she would. Can she discover the murderer's identity and keep herself out of harms way?

This book was very good. I really enjoyed it. Jane is such a likeable character. I love her interaction with her many clients. It really adds to each story.

I can't wait to read the next book in this series! I highly recommend this book.


Rating:
Summary: fantastic cozy amateur sleuth tale
Review: Literary agent Jane Stuart works and lives in Shady Hills, New Jersey and is glad to be away from the crime and troubles of New York City. She has a wonderful nanny Florence for her eleven year old son Nicholas; because of her friendship with Florence she allows her nanny's sister Crystal Ryerson to stay at her home for two weeks. When they move Crystal into her new home, Jane is thrilled to get rid of the obnoxious, meddling know it all busy body.

In the short time she has been in town, Crystal complained to Children Services stating that Myrtle Lovesy's daughter, a former drug addict, is not fit to raise her child. She also gets a teacher fired for stealing computers that he categorically denies. Crystal, an assistant director at the public library, arranges a reading group. At the very first meeting the teacher and Mrs. Lovesy are there. When Crystal climbs a ladder to get a book from the top shelf of the bookstore, it falls on her killing her instantly. Florence ask Jane, who has solved five homicides, to find her sister's killer; she agrees to help her friend not knowing that she is putting her life on the line.

CRUSHING CRYSTAL is a fantastic cozy and a delightful amateur sleuth tale all rolled up into one terrific package. The protagonist is intelligent and loyal willing to go the extra mile to help her friend. Evan Marshall has written his best mystery to date because there is a subplot involving a missing beautiful high school girl that seamlessly returns to the main story line. This delightfully charming mystery is definitely deserving of an award nomination.

Harriet Klausner