Bibliography: Maliett, G. M. (2009). Death and the Lit Chick. Woodbury, MN: Midnight Ink. ISBN: 978-0738712475
Plot Summary: Detective Arthur St. Just is attending an Edinburgh festival for mystery writers to give a presentation about detective work. He is staying at Dalmorton Castle and Spa along with several mystery writers, aspiring writers, literary agents, and a publisher. Lord Easterbrook of Deadly Daggers Press has gathered together his stable of authors to present an award to his latest darling: Kimberlee Kalder, author of the bestselling debut chick lit mystery Dying for a Latte. But not everyone is thrilled with her success, and when she is found murdered, St. Just is called upon by the local police to help question the suspects.
Critical Analysis: Even better than the first in the series (Death of a Cozy Writer, which was a take off on the country estate murder and received an Agatha award), Malliet does a great riff on the locked room murder while skewering writing and literary conferences and poking fun at mystery writers everywhere. It starts with the names: Arthur, perhaps like A. C. Doyle? St. Just, because that is what he is seeking. Portia, as her namesake in the Merchant of Venice, beautiful, gracious, rich, intelligent, quick witted and with high standards in men. And De’ath? Too, too funny. Of course Detective St. Just had to fall in love with her. Margretta Sincock regrets the misdeeds of her past, and Jay Fforde might be a shout out to Jasper Fforde. Even the local police have fitting names: Moor, as in the moors of Scotland, and Kittle, which has a Scottish usage that means to tickle or perplex. And then there is the darling debut chick lit author: Kimberlee Kalder. (Is that her real name? She’s not telling.) And of course there is the setting–an old Scottish castle complete with a drawbridge and a ghost! If you were a mystery writer or police detective, would you stay there, no matter who is picking up the bill? I do wonder if this series resonates as well with readers who aren’t familiar with their Christie, Sayers, and Wodehouse?
As for the mystery, it is pretty well done, and as with all locked room stories, the intriguing question is if no one could get in from the outside, then which of the people who were already here had the motive to do the deed? Red herrings abound, and I thought the scenes where Just is questioning the group of writers who had been in the living room grousing and griping all evening was very well done, almost like a who’s on first type of thing. For the most part, the secondary characters are somewhat two dimensional, but in many cases larger than life as befits the humor of the tale.
Readalikes: Murder at the ABA by Issac Asimov featuring an amateur detective and writer named Just solving a murder at a bookseller’s convention
The Death on Demand series by Carolynn Hart which is less a send up of mysteries and more an homage, with mystery bookstore owner Annie Darling and a rotating cast of characters. Especially recommended is The Christie Caper which is set at a conference honoring Agatha Christie.
Review Excerpts: “Malliet’s satirical take on the mystery scene is spot-on.”–Publisher’s Weekly
“Lots of humor and a bit of ‘guess who this writer is’ make this one a good choice for readers who enjoy intelligent cozies and traditional mysteries.”–Library Journal
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