Beth Groundwater, A Real Basket Case

A Real Basket Case

Beth Groundwater

Five Star, Mar 2007, $25.95

ISBN: 1594145476

In Colorado Springs, middle aged Claire Hanover suffers from empty nest syndrome with her two children Michael and Judy at college and her spouse Roger, the Chief Finance Officer, working late hours and ignoring her. She has some satisfaction with her gift basket business, but that fails to overcome the loneliness. Her best friend Ellen Kessler suggests she have a fling with her aerobics instructor Enrique Romero, especially when he offers her a home massage, which she accepts.

Enrique comes over to her house, but someone shoots and kills him in Claire's bedroom. Immediately afterward, she sees Roger standing next to the bed holding the gun. Police Detective Wilson feels he has an ironclad case of a cuckold husband catching his wife with her lover, but Roger insists he is innocent. Claire believes him though he believes the worst in her. She begins investigating who would have a motive to kill Enrique besides Roger. As she fumbles her way through hookers, drug dealers, irate aerobic students and some jail time, she soon concludes someone close to her fits might be the culprit.

Though Claire should have hired a professional investigator, readers will know her motives to risk her life are solid as she blames herself for causing the immediate mess by going outside her beliefs when she invited Enrique to her home. The storyline is fast-paced as she follows clues that the police ignore because their case against her husband is overwhelmingly solid. Readers will appreciate this fine amateur sleuth as Claire knows if she fails she will become A REAL BASKET CASE.

Harriet Klausner