|
[ Home ]
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
Jane Stuart is thrilled that she is able to help move Crystal Ryerson into her new apartment. Crystal has been staying with Jane for several weeks, and has long worn out her welcome. Crystal has also been making waves in the community at large. She is a librarian at the Shady Hills Public Library and cannot get along with the head librarian. She has interfered with the lives of numerous people and has made countless enemies. When she is murdered, the list of possible suspects is limited only by their opportunity to commit the crime. Jane decides to help investigate, as Crystal was a former houseguest and was the sister of her nanny/maid. Jane quickly realizes that in addition to known enemies, Crystal has dangerous unknown enemies. Somehow, Crystal's death is connected to the disappearance of several teenage girls that no one seems interested in investigating. Jane must solve these two crimes before another innocent girl disappears. CRUSHING CRYSTAL has many characteristics of a stereotypical cozy. Jane Stuart is constantly putting herself in slightly dangerous situations and ignoring the advice of her policeman boyfriend. She is convinced that no one cares about solving the murder but her and no one - regardless of how valid their advice is - will stand in her way. This can be incredibly frustrating to the reader, especially when she uses the same thoughts and justifications for all of her actions regardless of what decision she makes. For example, when hiding her whereabouts and plans from her boyfriend, it is because he does not care about the truth. She will sneak off and investigate on her own because no one else cares what happens. As in all amateur detective mysteries, Jane manages to not get herself killed and has the happy ending that she feels she deserves. Although this book is supposed to star Jane Stuart and Winky, her cat, it is not a cat-driven book. Winky acts like a typical cat and has nothing to do with Jane's ability to solve a crime. In fact, I could not figure out which cat was Winky as they played such a minor role in this book. Other books in this series might feature Winky more prominently; however, that was not the case with CRUSHING CRYSTAL, the sixth book in the Jane and Winky series. Cat phobic readers need not fear this book.
Reviewed by Sarah Dudley, September 2004
[ Top ]
QUICK SEARCH:
Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
[ Home ]
| 
