cover image Obsessions

Obsessions

Marshall Cook, . . Bleak House, $24.95 (302pp) ISBN 978-1-932557-80-0

Murder upsets a Wisconsin writing conference in the engaging fourth entry in Cook's cozy series featuring do-it-all newswoman Monona “Mo” Quinn (Murder at Midnight , etc.). When Mo's husband, Doug, stumbles on the body of conference star attraction Fletcher Downs, an author whose personality offends fans as quickly as his books win them, there are plenty of suspects, starting with the students in the mystery writing class Downs was teaching. Mo once again puts her curiosity and news-seeking skills to good use, despite admonitions from Doug and Detective Sergeant Lafferty to let the law handle the investigation. Readers who like their mysteries relatively bloodless and leavened with a pinch of romance, humor and regional color should find this a perfect fit. (June)