Reviewer: Connie Payne
Title: Ghost of a Chance - 2nd Marjorie McClelland Mystery
Author: Amy Patricia Meade
Publisher: Midnight Ink (Llewellyn Publications)
ISBN: 073871092X
Release Date: April 2007
Genre/Sub-genre: Romantic Mystery
Year/Setting: 1935 - Ridgebury CT
Overall Rating: 4.0
Sexual Content Rating: None
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: None/Mild
Violent Content Rating: Minimal
Amy Patricia's Website:
www.amypatriciameade.com
True crime/mystery writer, Marjorie McClelland takes a hands on approach when it comes to researching her stories. Not on purpose mind you, purely coincidental. But she does find herself at the location of the crimes and involved in the investigations, to her delight.
This time, at a local church carnival, a man that was very much alive when he got on the Ferris wheel, falls out of the car at the end of the ride. Dead. Initially ruled a heart attack, the case was likely to be closed quickly. Detective Jameson (Marjorie’s fiancé) doesn’t have the crucial piece of evidence, though. Marjorie does. Once again, quite by accident of course, sort of. If only he’d listen to her!
As that’s not likely to happen, she calls on her friend and editor, Creighton Ashcroft to take her to the morgue. She’ll find out if her assumption is correct with or without Robert Jameson! Whether he listens to her or not!
Finally, reluctantly, the Detective gives in, only after she follows him and Creighton to Boston in an old Model T, and includes a determined Marjorie in the investigation. Soon the pieces start to fall in place with each lead that’s followed up, more and more is discovered about the victim. But they seem to keep going in circles between Ridgebury and Boston. Or are they? What are they overlooking?
Hopefully they’ll get a break in the case before someone else is killed or hurt.
Marjorie is surrounded by characters that stimulate her mind, bring out the best and worst in her. Their personalities are very colorful and eclectic. They work well together feeding off of each other and the characters surrounding them.
My one disappointment had to do with the nostalgia. I was expecting this story to be rich with it in phrases/slang and description. Don’t get me wrong. It’s there, but not to the extent I was perhaps over eagerly anticipating.
Ghost of a Chance is packed with more than the average set of clues and requisite dead body. Amy Patricia Meade has written a mystery full of suspects, one motive after another, and lots of red herrings. Add to the mix humor and a love triangle and you’ve got a winning combination.
Connie
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