The Waikiki Widow (Rue Morgue Vintage Mystery)

Rating:
Summary: Surrounded by money and glamour, Lily and Janice entertain
Review: Sometimes mystery writers come by their craft in weird ways. Juanita Sheridan was born Juanita Lorraine Light in Oklahoma in 1906, and had two members of her family murdered. Her grandmother was killed by Pancho Villa during a robbery. Her father's death was never definitively explained, but the rumor is that he was poisoned by a political rival. Sheridan and her mother toured the West, then as an adult she landed in New York. Her son was adopted by Sheridan's mother, while Sheridan tried to make a living writing. Sheridan lived in Hawaii, where her life took many twists and turns, including as many as eight marriages. She lived in New York, Hollywood, and Guadalajara, Mexico, where she died in 1974. Publishers thought her early stories were melodramatic, but Sheridan swore she wrote from real life experiences.

Lady Blanche Carleton is officially dubbed Honolulu's "Waikiki Widow." She is beautiful and sought after by any man who comes within range. But the death of her husband, an elderly British diplomat, who left her penniless, raises questions about who is her financier. Enter Lily Wu and Janice Cameron. Lily comes from a wealthy family, and Janice is her foster sister. Janice is also a successful novelist, and her current story is being filmed for a Hollywood story. Lily leaves for China and returns with Madame Li, who is very ill, and her servant Yao. When Yao is found mortally injured, the plot thickens. Who would want to murder him? He uses Lily's arm to trace Chinese characters which are their only clue:

"Yao's finger moved and she watched intently, and then said, 'Tea? Yes, I know it is in tea, you told me that much. Who hurt you?' She touched his hand again and once more he made a Chinese character on her flesh. Lily frowned, concentrating.

'Tiger? I don't understand.' As his fingers again went through the motions of writing a character, she said, 'Tea? Yes, you told about the tea. But what kind?' He made another complicated series of motions and his hand dropped limp on the sheet.

Lily bent over Yao, saying, 'Dragon, Dragon what? Can you tell me more?'"

Sheridan was a Renaissance woman, and she creates her characters to be part of a loving family, but intelligent and independent. Surrounded by money and glamour, Lily and Janice entertain.

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer