The Late, Lamented Molly Marx.  By Sally Koslow.

Times change. 

I had trouble with the eponymous heroine of “Molly Marx” because she stayed in a marriage with an unrepentant  philanderer, because he was a good provider and because she didn’t want her daughter to suffer the divorce of her parents.  I don’t think I’d be alone in my distaste for her decision to stay with a husband who cheated on her two hours after their wedding.  And yet even 50 years ago, 90% of the population would have thought she was doing the smart and moral thing.

Molly has a good chance to think about her life; the book opens at her funeral. She visits Earth from the Duration and tries to figure out who murdered her.  She watches her parents, her best friend, her ex-lover and her sister grieve, and hovers over her beloved daughter.  She tries not to watch her husband and his mistress.

The fact that I’m discussing Molly Marx as if she really existed should tell you something – this book really pulled me in.  As a mystery it disappoints a little, so I don’t recommend it for die-hard law-and-order fans, but everyone else who likes funny, lively writing, will love it.

Recommended.