Murder for Good

In Heley’s tiresome 20th Ellie Quicke mystery (after 2018’s Murder by Suggestion), Ellie’s retired reverend husband, Thomas, who has a big heart for those in need, offers to let Hetty , a middle-aged woman with no home and basic skills, stay with him and Ellie in their London house until she gets on her feet. Hetty starts to behave badly, and when asked to leave, she becomes dangerously vindictive, including staging a fake attempted murder and blaming Ellie. In the midst of the turmoil, Thomas starts to receive money from estates of recently deceased people he has never met. After the sixth generous monetary gift, Thomas wants to go to the police, but first Ellie wants to see whether she can unravel the mystery of their good fortune. Too many characters spewing angry tirades (including Diana, Ellie’s obnoxious daughter), a thin plot, and little action until the final pages will try the patience of readers not already invested in the series. This one’s strictly for series fans. [em]Agent: Juliet Burton, Juliet Burton Literary (U.K.). (Dec.) [/em]