Open and Closed

Coward delivers exactly what the British cozy tradition promises: sharp wit, warm character chemistry, and a mystery that serves as an excuse for social observation as much as detection. Setting a murder inside a library that's being shut down by austerity cuts is a lovely piece of structural comedy, and Ellery Queen's praise for Coward's comic writing is well earned here. The Five Star imprint limits its reach, and the mystery itself is fairly gentle, but for readers who love Packham and Mitchell this is a satisfying entry.