Dance of the Scarecrows: A Jonathan Wilder Mystery

A surprising amount of malevolence is seething in picturesque Scarborough, Conn., and Sipherd (Christmas Store) artfully doles it out throughout this well-constructed tale. Six of the town's most prominent citizens, dressed as scarecrows, put on a comical musical performance for the community on Halloween. When scarecrow Roderick Ramsey, the First Selectman, is found murdered in a bizarre fashion the next morning, suspicion falls upon innocuous and scholarly ornithologist Jon Wilder, who discovered the body and whose knife, the murder weapon, was found not far away. Hoping to clear himself, Jon begins a clumsy and often embarrassing investigation of his own, aided by his uncompromising nature and by some colorful friends (a loquacious cabinetmaker and a beguiling antiques dealer). After another of the scarecrows is murdered, Jon gets into high gear and is beginning to piece together a complex conspiracy theory when he discovers that his own life is at risk. Bird lore and legend are woven effortlessly into the story, enriching it considerably. A crow feather proves to be a highly significant item. Many of the town's residents seem to be senior citizens, and the author proves to be an expert at delicately peeling away layers of deception to reveal that there is definitely something nasty behind those benign and elderly facades. (Aug.)