Ruby Roy is a clumsy, name-brand-toting professor from Baron University. When she returns to her office one evening in the fall to retrieve a bag she forgot, she stumbles across a corpse, a person shrouded in dark clothes, and a mystery that she must solve or face the possibility of being next. Rima Ray wastes no time throwing the reader into this thrilling, and quite funny, story.
A good set of characters is what takes good mystery novels and makes them great. Ray provided just that with her colorful ensemble of suspects, uh, I mean characters. Pete is the handsome and charming chairman. Laila is a nurturing, family-driven coworker. Tanya is the free-spirited feminist of the office. Plus, there are many other characters to meet along the way. Each of them has fun chemistry and brings such refreshing diversity to the novel.
Rima Ray tells this story was an ease. Her prose is easy to grasp and is quite evocative. Every clumsy misadventure or thrilling altercation is told with deft grace. It gladdens me to see that there very well could be a sequel on the horizon. It would be great to not only see Ruby Roy grow but the writing style of Rima Ray as well.
The second most important part to a good mystery story is a satisfying end. The “Save the Cat” method of plotting says that the “who done it” is not nearly as important as the “why done it.” I’m happy to say that the story justifies the actions of the killer beautifully. Without going into spoilers, it gives a loving sendoff to a tragic story.
If you want a good comic mystery that balances thrills and shrill laughter, Ruby Roy and the Murder in the Falls is for you!
