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Title: 4.5 stars for the cigar-smoking Hen
Review: I seem to like Lovesey more the more I read of him. This one's about a Writers' Circle--a support group for aspiring writers--of all types: fantasy, erotic poetry, even comic strips--so it reminds one of Lovesey'sBloodhounds (Soho Crime)about a mystery readers' circle. Foiled again! However, in this one, the protagonist isn't Peter Diamond (as in Bloodhounds) but Hen Mallin. I like her better than Diamond--she's less narcissistic & unnecessarily caustic. The mystery is intricate & engaging. True, the 1st part of the book centers on the Circle (establishing background or context) & the 2nd part on Hen & the solution. There are also some good lines such as on P. 30: "This announcement went down like garlic bread in Transylvania."This is a fun read--but tough to figure out. Enjoy!
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