Day Books

Despite many days of questioning the principals, the widow, the wives and anybody else who might have a shard of knowledge about the group, Chris has almost as many questions as she does answers. Yet her persistence has turned up a few leads that the police have as yet to discover. Thus a pretty good premise leads us through the life and times of the men, especially the murder victim, Arthur Wien, a famous novelist, to a fairly surprising conclusion. Wien's celebrity life, his women chasing, money borrowing, and messy divorce, fueled much of the grounds for motive, still difficult to find among the great chums. We picked up a clue mid-book that gave us an inkling of the outcome, an "eureka" not common to reading the stories in this series. Even with that precognition, we were held in suspense until nearly the final chapter when all becomes clear and Chris once again is the lever that elicits a confession from the apparently guilty party. Interestingly, whether it was really that party or not is somewhat left to the speculation of the reader.

We enjoy the very predictability of Lee Harris' stories of which we suppose some might tire. We have often characterized the leading lady and her family as wholesome and caring, creating dependably pleasant tales that don't need violence and gore, nor foul language or explicit sex, to capture and sustain our interest. Isn't that what a good mystery is all about ?!?!

A group of boys living on the same block in the Bronx becomes friends, calling themselves the "Morris Ave Boys". They even wear jackets with colors to distinguish themselves from other students. Over two decades later, nine of the boys remain in touch. They hold reunions, bringing their wives to the festivities. Their next meeting is scheduled for New York on Father's Day.

Former nun and amateur detective Christine Bennett lives and teaches in the city with her police officer spouse. One of her students asks her to assist his grandfather, the prime suspect in the murder of one of his cronies, a fellow member of the "Morris Ave Boys". Christine begins to investigate and finds that she likes all the group's members and their spouses. Everyone seems nice and harmless. As she digs deeper, she begins to find flaws in their perfect behavior, concluding that one of them has ample reason to commit murder.

Lee Harris has the ability to successfully handle a large ensemble cast that leaves the audience feeling they intimately know everyone. The transition between Chris the detective and Chris the mom blend well together and actually enhance the intriguing story line. Even Ogden Nash, after perusing THE FATHER'S DAY MURDER, would say "The Bronx, thonx". Anyone who reads this novel or the other nine tales in the Bennett amateur sleuth series will feel fully entertained and anxious for the next book.

Harriet Klausner

One of the many enjoyable Carl books.

Kids love this, or at least my son did. For some time, we'd use diner talk from the book, calling donuts "life preservers," coffee with cream "a blonde" and vanilla milkshakes, "white cows." The language is revealed naturally in the text (though word mongers will love the glossary in the back); customers order in ordinary language such as "A tuna sandwich on toast, please and a Dr. Pepper with the ice left out" and then Frank calls the order to Ernest using diner talk: "Ernest, I need a radio sandwich down, and an M.D., hold the hail." It is fresh, funny and wonderful.

For the fun of the language, the warmth of these characters, whom no one seems to notice are an elephant and a bear, to the detailed illustrations (you could easily craft a stage set from these paintings), this book reminds us, as children do, that food, after all, is fun. Finally, the diner's retro design and the book's nostalgic feel might make it a fun read for grandparents, who possibly remember such places, to share with their grandchildren. I hope that this book will be reissued, as it is a truly pleasurable one.