Gangsters and Gumshoes, Oh My!

December 13, 2010

Death was the other Woman by Linda Richards is reminiscent of the old "Thin Man" movies with the main characters’ witty banter, gangsters and gumshoes, and 1930s slang. Richards’s first work of fiction, Mad Money, was nominated for the Arthur Ellis Award for best first novel. Death was the Other Woman is her hard-cover debut. This book is an enjoyable whirlwind of mystery and intrigue, a classic Whodunit. The protagonist, Kitty Pangborn, is plunged into the realities of a tough world, and must learn how to make it on her own. She is a working woman during a decade where most women stayed at home.

In her hunt to find a job, Kitty proves herself to be a decent secretary for her hard-drinking, tough-guy boss, Dexter Theroux, who is an enigma in and of himself. Kitty is a strong heroine and Dex is not as dumb as he acts, but they have no idea of the danger and suspense that is waltzing though the front door with their client Rita Heppelwait. This is a story that keeps you guessing to the end with an arsenal of shady characters and many twists and turns. This is a great read and a fun page-turner with its clever weave of fact and fiction. Death was the other Woman is one of the reads for the Teen Book Club starting this fall. The Oak Grove Branch is offering many Teen programs. We will be continuing the already popular Teen Photography Club every first Thursday of the month. There will also be Anime Movie Nights, drawing classes, Japanese calligraphy, and a bunch of other cool stuff for teens. So, keep an eye out for a calendar of fall events at the library.

Kelly D.
Oak Grove Branch