Under the Wolf's Head

Cameron--who, the publisher says, has ""authored other mysteries under another name""--begins a series featuring a gardening enthusiast and amateur detective, Callista Bagley. Callista and her sister, Lacey, both widows, share a large Victorian house in the town of Taylor, Kans. Prim, proper and somewhat paranoid, Lacey pushes the reluctant Callie to encourage the attentions of two eligible widowers new to town, Basil ""Box"" Carr and Til Griffith. But Callie has more on her mind than middle-aged romance when a series of strange events occurs, culminating in the murder of an elderly relative, Hetty Bagley. Eventually, a second killing occurs and two characters go missing. Callie shows potential as a lead, but Cameron needs to improve her supporting cast, who are more often distinguished for their oddness (for example, a cross-dressing sheriff) than for their realism. The gardening tips seeded throughout the narrative are a clever ploy, echoing the inclusion of cooking tips in the ever-popular culinary mysteries; but even so, this mundane series is unlikely to harvest a wide readership. (July)