James, Dean. Posted to Death: A Simon Kirby-Jones Mystery.

Dean James introduces a different twist into the cozy English village genre of mysteries with his gay-vampire-historian-writer sleuth in a madcap homage to Dame Agatha as he uncovers scandal and solves the murder of the annoying postmistress of Snupperton Mumsley.

The plot is predictable but energized with daffy characters that amuse and romantic tension that will make you smile with expectation. Mr. James does a more than admirable job explaining his vampiric hero's ability to act human (there are pills for that), and makes his sexuality a natural component of his whimsical nature. The protagonist's secrets are plentiful--among them that fact that he writes as two different Romance authors to supplement his serious historical biographies and that he is a vampire. The later fact effects the plot the least but allows us to comprehend why Simon needs little sleep as he writes all night and sleuths all day.

Like any good Christie lover, James layers his plot with a web of intriguing possible suspects from the charming bookseller with the jaded past to the outspoken and controlling Lady Prunella Blitherington.

There is enough of a twist to the ending to make the writer a mere step ahead of the discerning reader. This was a laugh-out-loud mystery that provided a ride that was entertaining and brisk. I will be looking forward to more savvy sleuthing from Dr. Kirby-Jones in the future.

Leane M. Ellis, May 28,2002.