Poor Tom Is Cold

From Publishers Weekly The plethora of historical mysteries makes it difficult for a writer to carve out a time and place uniquely her own. However, Jennings has laid strong claim to the Toronto of the late 19th-century with the Anthony award-winning Except the Dying and Under the Dragon's Tail, and she cements her hold with this deft combination of mystery and social issues. Now an acting detective, William Murdoch faces heartache and toothache as well as the troublesome (apparent) suicide of a young constable, Oliver Wicken. The constable's body is found in an abandoned house on his patrol route when his supervisor reports his absence. A note by the body suggests Wicken killed himself over a lover's rejection. A witness even comes forward to claim she was the woman involved. Murdoch's investigation is driven as much by the desire of the police to avoid the stigma of a suicide in its ranks as it is by a desire to expose a crime. Jennings exposes the era's "political correctness" without ever mounting a soapbox or becoming strident. So many incidentals of her book fascinate, horrify or inform: the treatment of those consigned to the "insane asylum"; the prevailing prejudice against Chinese and Catholics; the new, "painless" dentistry then available. The result is a satisfying mystery perfectly wedded to its evocative setting. Jennings's sales and reputation should continue to grow with this third strong effort. Agent, Teresa Chris. (Feb. 6) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. From School Library Journal Adult/High School-On a dreary, dull mid-November day in 1895 in Toronto, Acting Detective William Murdock begins searching for Oliver Wicken, who hasn't reported in during the last hours of his beat. Murdock finds the constable dead from a shot to the temple and his body poised in a suicide position. The detective painstakingly gathers information until he finally fits the pieces of the mystery together. The solution involves greedy relatives intent on inheriting an old man's money in spite of his young wife. A tensely played last-minute attempt of the wife to save her own life results in a suspenseful ending. Jennings brings the late-19th-century Canadian town into clear view, complete with food, myriad cultural perspectives, daily routines, and varied religions. Murdock carries out most of the transfer of information while secondary characters are a balance to his sometimes dreary way of thinking. The young woman's family shows a real sense of the evil workings of mankind as they try and try again to murder her. Her male relatives are so vulgar and crude that they intensify the sense of evil and stand in direct contrast to the inherent goodness of the protagonist. Jennings weaves an intriguing plot through all types of obstacles, and concludes with a great burst of action. Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.