A blog reviewing mystery books, with a listing of Saskatchewan mysteries, and a sprinkling of non-fiction books, especially history and biographies
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Monday, February 3, 2014
Wildcat Wine by Claire Matturro
40. - 450.) Wildcat Wine by Claire Matturro – Sarasota medical
insurance defence litigator, Lily Belle Cleary, is defending a pet
psychic/alien-abductee counselor.They are healing specialities unknown in Canada. As she
plots a legal defence her wild Georgia
friend (and first lover), Dave Baggwell, arrives with a semi load of organic Florida wine. (I had no
knowledge Florida
produced wine.) Complications come swiftly and abundantly. She finds out the
wine is stolen. Dave and Benny, the teenage son of her trusted secretary Bonits,
find a body in nearby swamp. Farmer Earl Stallings, the owner of the stolen
wine, is killed by the most unusal murder weapon, a grape picker. It reminded
me how a 3 ton farm truck was an attempted murder weapon in Flight of Aquavit by Anthony Bidulka. Lily Belle would be a great partner
for Anthony’s character, Russell Quant, if Russell were not gay. Further bodies
continue the complications. Criminal defence lawyer, Philip Cohen, has the
potential of a continuing love interest. Where Lily Belle was a touch eccentric
in her first mystery her obsessive compulsive nature, especially with regard to
washing food, is striking in this novel. I enjoyed the plot but found myself
wishing she spent more time in the office and courtroom upon her cases. She is
at her fictional best as a lawyer. I wonder if Lily Belle will become a senior
partner in her next mystery as misfortunes continue striking down the existing
senior partners. (Sept. 24/08)
****
It has been a few years since I read one of Matturro's books. Lily Belle is a memorable character.
Bill - Thanks for the review. I prefer it too when we get to see what lawyers do professionally if the book has a legal plot. Still, the setting seems well-done here and I'm glad you enjoyed the plot. And Lily Belle certainly does seem memorable.
Margot: Thanks for the comment. I do not understand, when a courtroom lawyer is your lead character, why you do not put their work at the heart of a mystery. Still there are no dull pages with Lily Belle.
Bill, with a name like that, I suppose Lily Belle Cleary would be a "memorable character." I take it that more bodies is not absolutely central to the plot.
40. - 450.) Wildcat Wine by Claire Matturro –
Bill - Thanks for the review. I prefer it too when we get to see what lawyers do professionally if the book has a legal plot. Still, the setting seems well-done here and I'm glad you enjoyed the plot. And Lily Belle certainly does seem memorable.
ReplyDeleteMargot: Thanks for the comment. I do not understand, when a courtroom lawyer is your lead character, why you do not put their work at the heart of a mystery. Still there are no dull pages with Lily Belle.
ReplyDeleteBill, with a name like that, I suppose Lily Belle Cleary would be a "memorable character." I take it that more bodies is not absolutely central to the plot.
ReplyDeletePrashant: Thanks for the comment. Fewer bodies would have been no problem.
Delete