The chocolate box: An Edna Heathcott mystery

by Leslie Elizabeth Watts

"Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."   This anthology of short stories is like that box of chocolates.   Set in a variety of locations and written over a number of decades, some of the stories are based on fact, others were sparked by an overheard word or phrase. There is a little bit of just about everything, just like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates.   Each story is entertaining in its own way. Tane grapples with the hand luck has played in his life, while an old man laments the passing of a one-time acquaintance. Phoebe struggles to thwart Lyle's advances, and Lightfingers Lolita is in for a surprise. These are just some of the characters you will encounter in this potpourri of short stories.  

Genres: Mystery

251 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Mircah Foxwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but felt it could have been improved.

Edna was kind of quirky, and has some spunk, but mostly I felt I didn’t understand her motivations. Why was she compelled to take so many risks to try to solve this mystery? She didn’t like the murder victim, so why care who murdered him. She didn’t like her boss, so why help him, especially at risk to herself? I felt I never understood what made her tick.

I liked Detective Owl, and at first thought he was going to be her love interest. They had something to bond over, in their many confrontations over the case. But instead she leapt into a relationship with Michael - for no particular reason, it seemed, except they were set up by his mother. And were both horny, apparently. It didn’t seem like they had much basis for a relationship.

The resolution of the case also seemed problematic. How could Detective Owl just decide to let the investigation fizzle out, when he knew who did it? That felt unprofessional. I think it would have been better if he could have solved the murder by finding Mrs C acted in self-defence, and gotten her some counseling for past traumas, etc.

[Marti · Rating 2 out of 5]

story takes place in toronto. edna heathcott is an art expert who gets involved in the aftermath of a murder of an odious man who does pornographic chocolate, among other things. she becomes romantically attached to the son of the cleaning woman, which works out nicely for the two of them. this book does not have the pizazz which other murder mysteries i have read, contain. despite the somewhat exotic setting--hey, it is non native, it just didn't do much for me. i read it 5 minutes at a time on the treadmill--maybe that's why.

[Palak Bansal · Rating 4 out of 5]

its a nice book.. and i liked it..