Not a mystery as I expected, but more chick lit. Judith Viorst writes a very witty story about planning the murder of the man who is ruining the main character's life. Light enjoyable reading.

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Brenda Kovner is a zany, quirky advise columnist who lives in Washington, DC. Her readers love her problem solving approach - mostly. Not so much for her pediatric surgeon husband. And, her son, Wally, tells her to let it go whereas her other son whose goal is to get rich quick hopes she can help. Her belief that she can solve anyone's problems is, yes, problematic at times. For son, Wally, who has fallen deeply in love with the lovely timid Jo, it is indeed troublesome. For one thing, her father, Mr. Monti, does not approve of her marrying a social worker. Second, he is Jewish faith and she is thinking about adopting that faith. It's all a bit rocky because Mr. Monti is domineering and has firm ideas about Jo's future.

As Brenda worries about her family she anticipates celebrating her 47th birthday. It's a dreaded milestone because her mother and her grandmother both died at age 69. Brenda fears that she is too rapidly approaching that date. Needing live more of life she chooses to sleep with other men. Three in fact, one of whom is Mr. Monte.

Meantime, Mr. Monti has found a therapist to help Jo see things his way. Not appropriate thinks Brenda who urges Wally to find more objective help. Events move along as Mr. Monti persuads two of her husband's patient families to sue him, entangles her other son in a financial investment that drains his assets and threatens Wally. Brenda decides the solution is to murder Mr. Monti. And, the fun begins. Seriously. Hold your sides because Brenda's attempts to zap Mr. Monti are hilarious. It's a truly funny read.

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Maybe , I just wasn't in the mood for this book, but it just seemed like a very silly old lady roomance in that its about giving in to unforturnately somewhat realistic revenge fantasies. It was funny and wittily written, but not really my cup of tea. I love a good mystery though, and rarely read romances, especially for the older set - so this book was not my favorite.

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Barbing her trademark insight with humor, the multi-talented Viorst, known for her verse ( It's Hard to Be Hip Over Thirty and Other Atrocities of Married Life ), children's books ( Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day ) and nonfiction ( Necessary Losses ), hits another bull's-eye with this mystery, subtitled "A Merry Little Tale of Sex and Violence." Syndicated advice columnist Brenda Kovner, recently turned 46, is also a wife (of pediatric surgeon Jake), mother (of entrepreneur Jeff and social worker Wally) and sister (of many-careered Rosalie), who lives in a suburb of Washington, D.C. Optimistic, positive and with a characteristic "can-do" attitude that she applies to all problems--not just her own--Brenda decides that only murder will end the dangers imposed on her family by Joseph Monti in his zeal to break the engagement between his daughter and her son Wally. Though not the "murdering kind," Brenda decides that homicide is possible for her, a woman who, in an effort to learn what sex would be like with someone other than her husband, recently executed a plan to sleep with three different men in 24 hours. More compelling than the details of Brenda's murder arrangements are the gradually, and expertly, revealed circumstances surrounding her liaisons and their repercussions. Brenda's determined cheerfulness and constant interference may bring murder to the minds of many in Viorst's sharply limned cast, but readers, laughing their way to the last page, will be glad to have made this Mom's acquaintance.

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