The Quokka Question: A Kylie Kendall Mystery

Claire McNab once again treats the reader to a microcosm of Los Angeles through the eyes of intrepid P.I. trainee Kylie Kendall, who's still feeling her way 'round SoCal, bumping into unexpected situations, characters and traffic jams with a style all her own. Placing much of the action at UCLA, "The Quokka Question" illuminates the chalkboard jungle politics of higher academia, with professors and their staff doing their intellectual best to outwit and outmaneuver each other. Whether its chalk outlining a lesson on the board, or chalk outlining a victim's body on the ground, it all makes for great intrigue and a rapid-fire read. The office crew of Kendall & Creeling is back with just as much individual quirky humor as ever. (Sitcom writers take note: This is an office with marvelously-drawn individuals who would be a delight to visit every week!) There's more of freeze-dried Fran (per McNab, "the pocketsize warrior queen,") the receptionist hotline starring the ever-toothy Melodie, as well as all the others, too numerous to name. And of course, the snooty cat so convinced of her own star power that she pulls off the moniker of "Julia Roberts" with a poise that just might make the original Ms. Roberts a bit envious. Continuing to befuddle and bewitch Kylie is the enigmatic, beautiful Ariana who can concurrently tie Kylie's tongue and tug at her heartstrings without so much as lifting one gorgeous finger. Between skewering university life, call-in sex radio shows and equity waiver theatrical wannabes, this latest in the Kylie Kendall series is sheer delight from cover to cover. As the waiter/actor in any upscale L.A. eatery would say upon delivering an artfully-arranged platter of lunch, "Enjoy!

The story with the superb sub-inter office story kept me wanting to read more and more. When I was done the only thing on my mind was when is the next Kylie Kendall mystery due out.......I hope soon.

Claire McNab has written another brilliant, and brilliantly funny, Kylie Kendall mystery. They're getting better and better! The plot is good, the characters well delineated, the situations delightful, and, in short, this is her best yet! Particularly good is all the office byplay. There is a wealth of character and detail here, and it is delicious. McNab has come into her own. Always a fine writer, her books are improving steadily. Of course, a major question is "What is the Quokka Question?" Read the book and you MAY find out!