Minerva Cries Murder: An Eliza Figg Mystery

In this series launch, Ballard ( Final Curtain ) introduces Eliza Figg, returned from a stint in the Peace Corps to Minerva, Ga., after her mother's death and her father's recent remarriage. One rainy night, pregnant Melody Lamb appears at Eliza's door; 16 years earlier, orphaned Melody lived with the Figgs before she was adopted by another family. Now, with her husband and adoptive parents all dead, Melody believes she is being followed and has no one else to turn to. Eliza takes her in, but five months later, both mother and baby disappear while on a routine stroll around the block. The baby is found unharmed nearby, but Melody remains missing, though Eliza's stepmother is sure she has recently seen her in Atlanta. Turning on a cliched device, the mystery features little suspense although it offers a pleasant Southern flavor and some appealing characters. Despite her Peace Corps experience and pursuit of graduate studies, Eliza is not especially engaging: she remains mired in childish resentment of her father's remarriage and whiney regret for her own lost loves. (Apr.)