Curse of the Kissing Cousins by Toni L.P. Kelner (2009, Paperback)

What's not to love about a mystery that's not only so much fun that you read it twice before finishing it, but also contains a whopping THREE eBay references? First, the heroine's sister shops on eBay to find her a mint-condition Kissing Cousins board game. And then a minor character decides to sell off her Kissing Cousins collection, and anything that doesn't get sold at the local collectibles exposition will be sold on eBay. Our heroine, intrepid reporter Tilda Harper, photographs the goodies for her magazine article, rationalizing as she takes way too many pictures that Rhonda can always use them to post her collection on eBay. Sure, she can — but lousy pictures won't be much help selling items!

But let's get back to the story. For Boston freelance entertainment writer Tilda Harper. "Where Are They Now?" isn't just a question, it's a career path. Writing articles about the current lives of former stage and screen stars is her specialty — and her passion. Now she's written about the curious deaths of two cast members from the cult-hit sitcom Kissing Cousins, and a third one has just been murdered.

It seems that someone is killing the cast one by one. And next in line is the actress who played tilda's favorite character, Mercy, who disappeared soon after the show is canceled. So to warn her, Tilda must find her. It's a search that calls for all her journalistic skills plus the help of a handsome celebrity bodyguard.

This was a great mystery right up until the end. The climax was indeed a grand finale, but it requires a major willing suspension of disbelief. I don't want to be a spoiler (unlike one of the many marvelous peripheral characters in this cozy whodunit) but let's just say I think a hunky bodyguard would not find it easy to pass as an aging Goth girl, even in veiled drag.

Overall, though, "Curse of the Kissing Cousins" (formerly published as "Without Mercy") is a terrific story with wonderfully entertaining characters who got right up off the pages and went through their paces. The author has a real way with words (I particularly liked her reference to the "festive hand gestures" of New York drivers) and keeps the well-constructed plot moving right along as Tilda progresses from wondering where Mercy is to wondering why she disappeared in the first place. The scenes at the Entertain Me! magazine offices and the film-festival cocktail party are particularly hilarious send-ups of real-life scenarios, and the roommate scenes are pretty funny too.

If you like your mysteries light on gore but heavy on humor and character study, then you'll enjoy "Curse of the Kissing Cousins". The cover calls it A "Where Are They Now?" Mystery, so presumably there are more treats in store starring edgy entertainment reporter Tilda Harper. Meanwhile, Agatha Award-winning Toni L.P. Kelner also is the author of the Laura Fleming series, and those were good reads too.

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