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This first novel from an unknown mystery author and small press is highly recommended. It is set in Louisiana in1950. Antique dealer and WWII veteran, Polk Sheridan, has aspirations to be a mystery author. When his lawyer sets him up to meet an editor at a major publishing house who is visiting his family plantation, Polk heads immediately for the Doom Plantation in spite of the warning that he should be sure to leave before dark. When the levee protecting New Orleans from the Mississippi was relocated in 1949, Doom Plantation was trapped on the river side. Not only is it in danger of being swept away by the next flood, it is inhabited by as colorful a group of eccentrics as you can imagine. Polk develops car trouble on the way down, which puts him beside the levee at dusk. Not finding any other way in, he leaves his car and climbs the levee to find the plantation house just as night closes in. Stumbling around in the dark, he heads toward a lantern and just misses witnessing a violent encounter. The next thing he stumbles over is the murdered corpse of Lee Doom. Things go downhill for Polk after that, and he finds himself trapped with a house full of Dooms and their in-laws and satellites, while Lee's corpse gets carried from the drive to the garconniere to the attic, to the stair landing and back to the attic again. Doom is ruled by Grandpa Doom, who is catered to by an assortment of characters with names like Belfrey, Henrijohn, and Henrijack. The setting of this novel is so vividly rendered that you feel every mosquito bite. The characters are unique and real, even Miss Mellie, of obvious reference. The story could not have taken place today (at least, I hope not!), but one can imagine that in the South in 1950, there might have been a ghostly place and a cast of characters such as one finds in The Clock Stops at Murder. It has the feel of a Tennessee Williams with humor and poignancy, while not making light of the drawbacks of the times. Kudos to Fred Webster for a very original and entertaining novel. Editor's Note: Patricia Wynn is the author of the Blue Satan mystery series.
Reviewed by Patricia Wynn, May 2002
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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