Death and the Gravedigger’s Angel: An Auction Block Mystery

In Ross’s charming third mystery featuring Death (pronounced Deeth) Bogart, a wounded ex-Marine, and his auctioneer girlfriend, Wren Morgan (after 2016’s Death and the Brewmaster’s Widow), a murder victim turns out to be the son of the founder of a hate-preaching church, sent by his father to infiltrate a mosque in East Bledsoe Ferry, Mo. When another wounded vet, who threatened the victim earlier, is arrested, Death sets out to prove his innocence. Meanwhile, a second (and more interesting) mystery emerges when Wren finds an old sketchbook filled with artist’s drawings and she tries to trace its origin. When the couple see a horror film, Wren can’t resist detailing what the wimpy actresses could have done instead of going into the basement or garden or wherever the undead killer is waiting. Coincidentally, she later puts those skills into practice when the killer comes after her. The amusing banter between Death and Wren more than compensates for the plot contrivances. Agent: Janet Reid, FinePrint Literary Management. (Feb.)