Her Brother’s Keeper: A Joan Spencer Mystery

Frommer explores the nuances of family relationships in her well-plotted seventh Joan Spencer mystery (after 2005’s Death Climbs a Tree). Joan, the part-time manager of the Oliver Civic Symphony in Oliver, Ind., is busy preparing for her daughter’s wedding when her black sheep brother, Dave, arrives earlier than expected for the big event. Joan has a lot more to worry about after her policeman husband, Fred, rushes to a local B&B in response to a 911 call and finds his mother, Helga, brandishing a bloody knife in the B&B’s kitchen. At Helga’s feet lies a dead man. Helga isn’t the killer, but she could be the key witness. Frommer uses dialogue effectively to highlight each character’s individuality. While some readers may figure out the culprit’s identity before the end, a red herring or two will keep others guessing. Agent: Shana Cohen, Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency. (Apr.)