The Lace Curtain Murders: A Romance

Belfort's first novel, set in Greater Boston, introduces a couple she plans to star in a series of mysteries. History professor Molly Rafferty and detective Nick Hannibal fall in love when murders bring them together. The first victim, Agatha O'Pake, is killed by mistake. The target is her sister Mary Agnes, later murdered while pursuing the nomination as a candidate to the U.S. Senate. A rabid backer of Irish terrorists, Mary Agnes had been despised by Molly and others, including her friends at the British embassy whose son serves in Belfast. Nick's interrogation of the couple offends Molly and she breaks off with her lover, but not for long. By the time the case is solved, the detective and his amateur helper are engaged. Belfort's debut could get a lukewarm reception. The plot involves almost every kind of political, social and racial type and predictable situation. And the leading characters are inhumanly lofty. Nick is a handsome, noble hunk who reads classics with his love in the original Greek and Latin. Molly's unbudgeable stand against anything less than noble seems priggish. One hopes they're more appealing in future stories. (May)