Mrs. Malory and the Legacy

Sheila Malory, amateur sleuth, novelist and critic, is happiest writing in her home outside London and spending time with her family. On one of her occasional trips to the capital, she sees her old college friend Beth, a bestselling author, along with several of their acquaintances. Soon after, Beth is found dead, apparently of an accidental drug overdose. Mrs. Malory is named literary executor of Beth's work, and she embarks on the task of reviewing her friend's unpublished manuscripts and speaking with the widower and children, not an enjoyable undertaking as both Beth and her husband were involved in love affairs and estranged from their children. For a time, Mrs. Malory assumes that she'll be able to put Beth's papers in order and perhaps write a biography of her friend, but these plans end when a researcher working on a critique of Beth's work is murdered. Now it's up to the heroine to find out if the two deaths are related and sort out the sordid details of Beth's life and demise. Mrs. Malory's demure manner belies a skilled detective who's clever, witty and most entertaining; Holt's (Death of a Dean) latest is a fine addition to the charming series. (Apr.)