Mary Saums, Thistle and Twigg

Thistle and Twigg

Mary Saums

St. Martin's, Apr 2007, $23.95

ISBN: 031236063

As a career military spouse, Jane Thistle has moved many times over the years. However, when her husband, Army Colonel John Bradford Thistle, died, the widow, used to doing the packing and overseeing the move, effortlessly settles in Tullulah, Alabama, though she grieves her loss. She selected Tullulah twenty years ago when she was driving by herself from Florida to his new post in the Midwest and during the drive she left the Interstate and found the town. In Tullulah, Jane meets widow Phoebe Twigg, who has been a towner all her life. In spite of the international and military outlook of Jane vs. the local sheltered perspective of Phoebe, the two become close friends.

The pals find a murdered corpse in a firing range in the woods while someone harasses Jane's neighbor Cal Prewitt, who is arrested for the homicide. An unknown enemy firebombs Phoebe's kitchen and strange events are occurring in Jane's new home. Used to taking charge and having done some quiet work for her late husband, Jane persuades Phoebe that they must depend on no one but themselves as they investigate who is behind the crime serge in Tullulah.

THISTLE AND TWIGG is an amusing whodunit with a sort of Home Alone feel to it as the widows battle the killers. The storyline is fast-paced, quite humorous and insures the audience knows the two lead female friends up close so that when they try to outwit their adversaries, they (and the consequently the plot) seems genuine. Fans of amateur sleuth tales will want to read Mary Saums' delightful cat and mouse game reminiscent of Tom and Jerry.

Harriet Klausner