Damsels in Distress

by: Joan Hess

Published by: St. Martin's Minotaur

Reviewed by Kathy Johnson

The Renaissance Fair in my state is among the oldest continuously operating Renaissance Fairs in the United States, and will celebrate its 37th anniversary this year. I have attended the fair numerous times, and know people who participated.

I have often wondered what transpires behind the scenes at the fair--and Damsels in Distress answers this question. Murder most foul. An excellent who-done-it with motives scattered among the Renaissance Fair participants. The story hosts a royal court rift with jealousy, infidelities, and greed. Farberville, Arkansas is a small, quaint college town about to host its first Renaissance Fair. Through it all, our heroine, Clarissa Malloy, must walk a tightrope between bookseller, mother of a teenager, amateur sleuth, and fiancee of Police Lieutenant Peter Rosen.

Clarissa is drawn into the inner circle of the royal court much against her will. She's privy to a secret that could shatter her daughter and her upcoming marriage. Then, when one of the participants dies in a suspicious house fire, Clarissa finds herself sniffing out the clues. She is also torn between being glad Peter is away, because what he doesn't know about her involvement in the crime won't hurt her or him--and being upset that Peter's mother is trying to set him up again with his first wife who is rich, powerful, and beautiful.

This is the 16th Claire Malloy Mystery, but there is no need to know Claire's previous history in order to enjoy Damsels in Distress, but it might very well encourage you to give the other books in the series a read.

Armchair Interviews says: Humor abounds at the Renaissance Fair.