A Nice Murder for Mom

Mom #1

by James Yaffe

Middle-aged, Bronx-born New York detective Dave leaves the violence of the city streets for a change of pace as investigator for the district attorney's office in the small Southwestern town of Mesa Grande. But he soon encounters as much mayhem, and even more hostility, prevarication, and cynicism in an unlikely spot: the English department of Mesa Grande College.

When Stuart Bellamy, scion of a distinguished family and recently tenured English professor, is bludgeoned to death with a bronze paperweight, suspicion falls on likeable professor Mike Russo, who was passed over for tenure in favor of Bellamy. Dave begins a tentative investigation of the case and is given pointed advice by an astute, highly intelligent, intuitive source: his visiting mother. Now in her 70s, Mom is a tough, shrewd New Yorker with a wry wit and an ability to mix keen analytical deductions with her more traditional talents as cook, mother and matchmaker.

This fast-paced mystery contains a rich trove of sharply etched supporting characters who animate the plot with caustic wit and imaginative ploys. Of course, Mom steals the show.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Since 1968 member of the Department of English, currently professor of English, and since 1981 Director of General Studies, Colorado College, Colorado Springs.

Reviews

[Mary JL · Rating 3 out of 5]

I deleted some of my mysteries in error, so if this review looks familiar, it is because I have to re-do some pages.

Well, to me one good thing about Goodreads is to find new authors you have never tried. If, like myself, you haunt used book stores, you find some books that are older and Amazon has little or no infomration.

Let me, then, introduce "Mom". Her son is an investigator, and frequently of course has mysteries to solve. He often talks thing over with Mom, who is one sharp cookie and sees questions to ask he does not think of. I have read all the books. The puzzles are plesant, average mysteries but when Mom is on stage, as it were, those parts are funny and interesting. Mom is a great character--if you like character driven stories, Mom will be fun for you to meet!

There are only four books in the series that I have found--so if you find one in a used bookstore, grab it and see if you too, will like "Mom".

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jessica Fletcher meets Sadie Shapiro in this first try at a cosy mystery. Chopped herrings galore, loads of tell-not-show...the author is purported to be an English professor, surely he knows better? Never mind that Superdetective Mom never meets a single one of the people involved or talks to them, let alone seeing the scene of the crime! Mom does all the thinking while Sonny Boy mostly drives around. I enjoyed the first half or so but by the end I was shaking my head and rolling my eyes.
Okay for a light summer read, but not competition for my reading time.

[Gabriele Crescenzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

È il primo romanzo che leggo di Yaffe e devo dire che le premesse sono molto buone. L'enigma è estremamente onesto, con molti (forse anche troppi) indizi che portano inevitabilmente alla verità, anche se io non sono stato così acuto da scovarla. Interessantissimo il personaggio di Mammina, un'anziana signora, madre del protagonista Davie, che è dotata di enorme intuito e capacità deduttive.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although dated, this is a great cozy/procedural mystery. The murder occurs early in the book and the rest of the story is focused on solving it without a lot of fluff.

[Alessandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perché non avevo mai letto nulla di suo??? Bellissimo giallo, molto moderno (è dell’89), scorrevole e divertente. Il personaggio della mamma del detective è meraviglioso. Unica nota negativa come al solito è la traduzione: “mammina”?? Terribile.

[Alberto Avanzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Questo romanzo degli anni '80 ma in stile classico costituisce un mix fra commedia e giallo, dove il vero detecive e' la madre (ebrea newyorkese) dello scialbo e poco perspicace ex poliziotto e ora collaboratore dell'avvocata d'ufficio di una contea del West. Un delitto maturato nell'ambiente universitario di questa immaginaria cittadina, Mesa Grande, da qualche parte migliaia di chilometri a ovest della Grande mela. Pur ben scritto, non mi ha entusiasmato ne' la parte gialla (per buona parte prevedibile, ma riscattata da un inatteso, ancorche' nemmeno lui entusiasmante, twist finale) ne' la parte commedia, ma comunque si legge volentieri. Sufficienza piena, ma ho letto di meglio.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A refreshing fun story featuring a New York Jewish Mum who goes to visit her detective son in the boonies of Mesa Grande, Yes, there is a murder for Mum, and she contributes to her son's efforts to try and solve the case!
Mum is an amazing character, full of very funny one-liners, and insightful wisdom.
A great fun read, with a surprisingly intriguing plot!

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this sounded like fun - a murder mystery that wasn't so dark that an elderly woman couldn't solve it behind the scenes with logic. I love logic.

Yes, it was that. But somehow it was just 'meh'.

[Joane Rogall · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a sweet ‘how did it book’. It is nothing special or special great written. But the characters of the mother and her son are great and how they have different ways of seeing the world. It is nice to read and it was a good little mystery to solve.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kept me turning the pages. I'll have to try some more by this author.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter bought this for me, and so of course I love it. But I wasn't expecting much from it as a book/novel, but... in fact it was very funny and a delightful read and a good mystery.

[MariaGrazia Bacilieri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carinissimo

[Farah Angelina N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because this book was originally published in 1990 - 1992, i decided to pick this book to read as i didn’t know this book existed back then. I initially wanted to read book 3 only as i was intrigued by the title. But 2 chapters in and i love the writing style, so i decided to read the whole 4 book series instead.

Out of the 4 books, my favourite was the #1 (a professor being framed for killing another professor for a tenure) and #2 (a jewish boy being framed for killing his Reverend neighbour). The #3 (a theatre actress being framed for killing the director) and #4 (a homeless man being framed for killing a masseuse in her own home) were not as exciting as the first two books of this series.

However, all four books had great twist from the superb deduction skills. Always get excited when i reach the end so i get to know what really went down with the murder, according to the great mind of mommy dearest.

[Julie Marks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dave's Mom just loves a good murder. When Mom comes to visit, Dave is quickly reminded of how intuitive she is while trying to determine who murdered a just tenured English professor. Even though Dave is the Chief Investigator for the Public Defender in Mesa Grande, Colorado, Mom is the "senior sleuth" in this entertaining mystery and the best guest an investigator could ever have.

[Judy]

I happened upon this book by chance and thought it was a lot of fun. Nice setting, interesting characters, a light police procedural. I also enjoyed the sequel, "Mom meets her Maker" and I hope there are more in this series.

[Drew- Pickleball Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool mystery about a detective with a Jewish mom who thinks like Sherlock Holmes. The book uses a fictional city in Colorado, but it's really Colorado Springs.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: NY detective Dave leaves town and moves to Mesa Grande where he encounters the same kind of mayhem. He consults with his Mom!