Murder in the Rough

by: Otto Penzler, Editor

Published by: Mysterious Press--Warner Books

Reviewed by Bob Pike CSP, CPAE-Speakers Hall of Fame

This book is for murder mystery lovers who like golf--but don't take it all that seriously. Fifteen authors, who are better at writing murder mysteries than golf stories, each contribute a short story: a murder mystery with golf in it somewhere.

To say that golf has to be found in it somewhere is a stretch, because one murder is built around miniature golf. The real golf enthusiasts will wince at some of the obvious violations of the rules of golf that make the murder impossible--or at least highly unlikely. However the average golfer may never even notice the difference.

I am a passionate golfer who likes murder mysteries, so for me this was a march through each story, thinking that the next would be better. Sometimes it was--the best in the book in my opinion was "Lucy Has a List" by John Sandford. Often it wasn't.

I really liked Stephen Collins' (of Seventh Heaven fame) contribution, "Water Hazard," right until the end. The suspense was good, plenty of red herrings to throw you off and keep you guessing, plus a last-minute switch that you don't see coming. But then if you're a keen golfer, there's a breech of the rules that just couldn't have happened in the fictional round of a woman's major...and still have the protagonist win. But for most readers it will be a small thing.

Armchair Interviews says: If you like a murder with golf somewhere in the mix, this book will be a good distraction. Just suspend judgment and enjoy the entertainment, because that's why the stories were written.