Fare Play (Marian Larch Series)

Rating:
Summary: Fare Play offers a more than fair return for your money
Review: Barbara Paul was a professor at University of Pittsburg and her love of writing shows in this well plotted, absorbing mystery. Newly promoted Lieutenant Marian Larch is confronted with a conundrum- why would anyone kill a harmless old man? Was it a mistake or is there a hiden motive? She confronts male prejudice on the job, pressure as the affluent and not so innocent threaten lawsuits as Marian presses closer to the truth. Paul skillfully mixes humor with suspense- Marian is invited to the "best man" at her former partner's wedding. To further complicate her life Marian's former lover re-enters her life. All of the characters are gems- from the priest who mixes up the wedding, to her partner's future battle ax mother-in-law Paul develops complex and believable characters. If you like this one also read the highly suspenseful, gritty You Have the Right to Remain Silent- Marian has to investigate the murder of four executives!, and read all of the Larch series. Barbara Paul is the best mystery writer and most underrated mystery novelist in America. Rereading it was as great a pleasure the second and third times as the first because I could appreciate skillful settings, character, plot development and the graceful writing! An underrated gem!

Rating:
Summary: An exceptional mystery writer
Review: The Marian Larch series deserves to be reprinted in its entirety someday soon. They are excellent mysteries and the lead character has realistic professional and personal relationships that are intricately interwoven together (just like real life...). For those of us who are Blakes 7 fans, Larch's mysterious lover is not only based upon Avon (played by Paul Darrow in the sci-fi series) but the entire book, dedicated to the B7 fandom, has a number of B7 "in jokes". Delightful reading!