MYSTERY

False Diamond: An Abbot Agency Mystery

by Veronica Heley
Severn. Mar. 2014. 216p. ISBN 9780727882981. $28.95. M
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The wealthy Holland family has its problems, most acutely the fate of niece Dilys, whose inept husband, Benton, may be running his little corner of the Holland family's fortune into the ground. Dilys's Aunt Sybil wants Bea (owner of the Kensington-set domestic agency, Abbot Agency) to set things straight. An abusive husband and father, Benton thinks faking Dilys's suicide might solve his problems, but Bea and Dilys's uncle foil his efforts. Problematically for Bea, her shallow son Max is quite taken by Benton's fast talking and underestimates his mother's intelligence. Now furious and desperately in trouble, Benton aims to work around Bea. But Benton's a fool, larger players take care of him, and Bea must count on her well-oiled team of amateurs to snare the professional villains.
VERDICT Marvelous! Up to number eight (after False Alarm), Heley's smart sixtysomething protagonist once again demonstrates her talents as an astute judge of character and solver of crime.
Reviewed by Teresa L. Jacobsen , Mar 01, 2014
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