Customer Reviews

Little Boy Blues: A Camilla MacPhee Mystery

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The third entry in the Camilla MacPhee series finds the feisty Ottawa victims' advocate looking forward to life without her bete noire assistant, the annoying Alvin Ferguson, who has secured a job at an upscale local gallery. Just before Camilla can hoist a cold one in celebration, word comes from Alvin's family in Sidney, Nova Scotia, that his vulnerable younger brother has disappeared. The usually acerbic Alvin is paralysed with grief, but Camilla comes to the rescue, along with the martial strategy of the venerable Violet Parnell. In a borrowed Buick, they make a whirlwind trip to the Maritimes in search of clues to the boy's sudden vanishing. Brain-damaged by a tragic accident years ago, is he the angelic innocent he seems, or does his naivete mask a darker side? Is his quirky family a loyal team, or do they have something to hide, too? What are the police concealing in their Young Offender files?
Maffini keeps the plot boiling as Alvin and Camilla comb alleys and interview a chip stand owner to trace Jimmy's last hours, stirring up old sins which threaten to destroy guarded lives. As usual, her trademark tongue-in-cheek humour provides a counterfoil to serious events: "You don't hear a slogan that says 'See Canada by Dark,' and for good reason." The redoubtable Mrs. Parnell plans World War II strategy as their unlikely squad, fuelled by Tim Horton doughnuts, speeds across provinces. Gussie the dog provides flatulent companionship and readers discover a touching new side to the cats-eye-glassed Alvin. Serving as an attractive and compelling frame is the famed Ottawa Bluesfest, a music festival which may be playing Camilla's swan song.

True to the past books in this Camilla MacPhee series, I found "Little Boy Blues" to be witty, fast-paced, and a solid mystery set in Canada. I enjoy the setting, the fact that the Author uses local words unknown to the USA in general. The book also draws characters which resonate within myself. There are times I'd like to give Camilla a piece of my mind and then the times, I laugh delightedly as she says something I wish I could have myself!

I am eagerly awaiting the next volume in this delightful series.

I really enjoyed the first two Camilla MacPhee stories. So, I was really looking forward to this third adventure. I must say that I was very disappointed. I found that the "bad guy" was identified early on in the story. I found many of the new characters flat and wooden, while the supporting characters did grow a little. I think the thing that I disliked the most was that the author allowed her politics to enter the story. Sorry, but I'm not interested. A mystery should allow me to get away from politics, not find them. I understand that a new Camilla MacPhee story is due in 2003. I can only hope that this was just a bump on the road, rather than the future direction.

I really enjoyed Mary Jane Maffini's first two Camilla MacPhee stories. So, I was really looking forward to this one. I'm afraid I was truly disappointed. I found that I knew the identity of the "bad guy" very early on. The story took several predictable twists as it moved along. But, I think the thing that I disliked the most was that the author allowed her politics to enter the story. Sorry, but I'm not interested. There is slated to be a fourth Camilla MacPhee mystery dues in 2003. Hopefully, this will have just been a poor outing.