OVERKILL by Eugenia Lovett West
OVERKILL by Eugenia Lovett West is a breezy, easy to read mystery featuring a middle aged heroine. Shades of Jessica Fletcher! In this book the amateur sleuth is Emma Streat, a widowed mother of two. Both of her sons are of college age and so her nest is empty. Boredom however is not a problem for her as she has just come off one adventure and is soon knee deep in another. Where Emma goes trouble seems to follow.
Things get off to a fast start in this new novel when Emma is notified her niece, opera singer Vanessa Metcalf, is involved in a dangerous relationship with playboy Seth Barzalon. Emma learns this through Vanessa’s assistant Cathy Riordan. Cathy urges Emma to come to Venice, where Vanessa is appearing, and talk some sense into her.
When Emma arrives in Venice a murder ensues. She barely manages to get herself and her niece out of this mess and back to America. Then in America, Vanessa falls ill and it is thought she has contracted a deadly virus. Even worse it is thought she was infected with this virus intentionally.
Through all of this Emma remains the independent widow who is good at reading people. For this purpose she is sought after by the local police and by an international crime fighting group. They believe Emma can help them find out who is behind this potentially deadly transportation of viruses.
One of the appeals of this book is Emma’s down to earth nature. She is well fixed financially but she can relate to people of all classes and social standing. Plus she is always a mother first and a sleuth second.
The plot of the story is believable and readable. It takes a good writer to manage both of these attributes. West also manages to make her characters lifelike and enjoyable. Even when Emma is defying death she is always thinking to herself she might die. She doesn’t see herself as super human and neither does the reader.
Eugenia Lovett West has created a valid heroine in Emma Streat. Now all she has to do is sell her books to a TV producer and then find a young Angela Lansbury to take on the main role. It could happen.
OVERKILL is published by Minotaur Books. It contains 274 pages and sells for $25.99.