Mommy and the Murder

Goldstone (Bad Business) turns to mystery with this lightweight, amusing tale of how ""mommy,"" former Wall Street commodities trader Elizabeth Halperin, escapes a murder rap. Found over his laptop wearing only earphones and socks, Elizabeth's estranged husband, writer Howard Hack, has been shot during a Halloween costume party in the Lenox, Mass., home of author Margaux Chase-the woman for whom he has left Elizabeth. Since Elizabeth, who is at the party, will inherit the $1 million advance on Howard's new novel (the divorce papers haven't been signed), the rural police regard her as their best suspect. Elizabeth, of course, roots for the guilt of Margaux or possibly another writer who has been wrapping herself around Howard lately. As circumstantial evidence mounts against Elizabeth, her newfound friends, the mothers of the children in her daughter's play group, contribute their various personal assets (local contacts, knowledge of law or computers) to Elizabeth's efforts to investigate Howard's secrets and find the murderer. Occasional flashes of wit and a cynical resolution keep the mommy squad's combined efforts from veering into the fatally cute. (July)