A Murderous Glaze
Melissa Glazer
Berkley, Nov 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780425218365

Carolyn Emerson lives in Maple Ridge, Vermont where she owns Fire at Will, a successful paint-your-own- pottery studio. Her dream is shattered when she finds the dead body of Betty Wickline with an awl through her chest. Carolyn readily admits she did not like the woman, but she also insists she never wished her harm; thus when the sheriff implies she is the prime and only suspect, she becomes indignant.

After word of the homicide spreads around the town, no one enters the store and people she has known all her life cold shoulder Carolyn. Not trusting Sheriff Hodges to conduct a through investigation, Carolyn decides that if she wants to save her shop she must make inquiries. One group of customers-friends, the Firing Squad, becomes her posse abetting her Betty sleuthing. They find a horde of viable suspects wanting the victim dead.

Readers who appreciate bloodless chick-lit asides cozies (oxymoron) will appreciate the entertaining A MURDEROUS GLAZE as the violence and gore occur outside the pages. The protagonist is a spunky fiftyish heroine who is filled with energy that makes the Energizer Bunny look at rest. The support cast includes the quirky posse who sweeten the story line with their maple syrup optimism and her spouse Bill who insists she skips the investigation as it is too dangerous yet is her biggest cheerleader. Readers will enjoy this fine character driven Vermont amateur sleuth.

Harriet Klausner