cover image A Woman's Own Mystery

A Woman's Own Mystery

Hannah Wakefield. St. Martin's Press, $14.95 (172pp) ISBN 978-0-312-05539-4

Writing as Wakefield, two American women living in London spin a compelling tale around American nuclear bases in Britain, English peace camps and the IRA. London solicitor/sleuth Dee Street (seen before in The Price You Pay ) is defending Gillian Shiraz, who has been charged with the murder of her friend, peace activist Annie Murphy. In addition, Dee has just found out that she is pregnant by her former lover, with whom she has broken off a long affair. Meanwhile, Dee's friend and ex-colleague Theresa O'Connor is defending IRA explosives genius Gerard Ryan. Although the two cases don't seem connected, Dee's investigations keep bringing her up against the names of Ryan and his militant relatives. Despite a plot riddled with holes, Wakefield meshes Dee's public and private lives in a provocative look at the importance of extended family relationships (Gillian has a child; Ryan is supported by his close-knit clan) from a personal as well as a political standpoint. With this topic examined from a woman's perspective, the title takes on added meanings. (Mar.)