The Wright Special

Rating:
Summary: Suspense! Murder! Romance! Religion! Bicycles...Bicycles?!!
Review: For die-hard (pardon the pun) murder mystery fans, this book might be a bit toned down, but it is worth the time and the challenge. Although this book may have been intended for adult readers, high school teenagers and possibly even junior high students will enjoy this entertaining who-dunit.

The story takes place in small town America and revolves around the antique market, specifically antique bicycles. Details about specific actual bicycles, such as the American Flyer, have been woven into the thread of suspense surrounding the murder investigation. The first victim is a miserly businessman claiming to have in his possession a bicycle hand-built by the Wright Brothers. Before long, most of the neighborhood is suspect in not one, but two murders, and possibly other crooked dealings. Equally threaded through the events is the quietly building romance between a young woman, who is an antique bike collector-turned-amateur investigator, and a former forensic locksmith.

Though a bit tame, "The Wright Special" makes for a comfortable, entertaining afternoon session, without the exaggerated violence and foul language so often found in hard-core murder mysteries on the market.