Christine Chamberlain doesn't want much from life: a steady job, a baby, and a Field's Medal. Her boss, however, wants money and he's willing to do anything to get his way, even if it means getting Christine involved in a project that not only jeopardises her dreams, but also her life.

When Christine complains to her colleagues, they joke about killing the boss to solve the problem, discussing the murder by email. Almost everybody has an obvious motive to get rid of the boss from hell... and a few hidden ones they don't share.

The next day, Christine brings fennel oil to work. In itself, it's not the world's deadliest poison, and Christine would of course never dream to use it as such. Or would she?

REVIEW

In Murder at Work, Yvonne Eve Walus' sense of humor isn't, perhaps, as apparent as it is in some of her other writing, but that doesn't keep this mystery story from being any less interesting, amusing, or fun. Using her own natural flair for mathematics, Ms. Walus has given us a female protagonist who not only becomes the prime suspect but must race against time to prove her own innocence. In itself, not a new situation in murder mysteries, but it's the way Ms. Walus handles it that makes Murder at Work intriguing and hard to lay aside.

Gossip, backbiting, and universal hatred of an unfair, opportunistic boss is all part of the South African consulting form where Christine Chamberlain works. The small coterie amuses themselves by imagining different ways in which their leader, one James Campbell, can by murdered. But then he IS murdered, and Christine becomes the focus for Captain Pieter van der Walt, investigating for the South African police, since Christine's bottle of fennel oil is missing, and it was labeled 'poison.'

Unfortunately, Christine's dream of escape to Greece has been shot down, first by James (before his death), then the Captain, and later by her boss' replacement. It's only due to her husband's insistence that she writes her resignation letter (according to the rules, not to take place until 30 days hence) - and then has to write it again when the first copy isn't found among the late James' possessions.

Everybody in the consulting office seems to have had good reason to loathe their boss. Rita, who now gets around in a wheelchair, was James' first amorous choice until the accident that disabled her. (Since that happened he married her sister). Dorothea, his secretary, seems to spy on everyone. Ian is angry and upset because he's been warned about his sloppy work, and Henry secretly plans to start his own business, taking Estelle with him. Estelle is a femme fatale and apparently has other income in addition to her salary. Yashila is retiring, shy, and pretends to love everybody. Every one of them has a story to tell about James.

Racism also enters the picture, and it soon becomes evident early in the story that James stuck more to the apartheid way of doing things than the contemporary supposed 'Rainbow' politics. Christine applies her mathematical skills to determine which of her co-workers actually offed the boss. One of them is the dreaded 'informer' - and James obviously discovered who it was.

Yvonne Eve Walus writes an engaging story, varying the viewpoint from one worker to the other but always coming back to her heroine, Christine. That part of South Africa and its problems becomes quite real to the reader. Whether or not Ms. Walus actually spent any time in that country remains unknown, but in any case, her research is good, and the book is a fine tribute to her character knowledge and writing skills.

Reviewed by: Alan Paul Curtis
who-dunnit.com

EXCERPT

"Tom," said Christine, and his hand paused on the light switch.  It was well after midnight, but the room was still sweltering.  They didn't dare open the windows yet and let in the fat highveld mosquitoes.  "Did you think it through?  I'm worried about financing the trip.  If I quit tomorrow --"

"Today." He glanced at the alarm clock.  "You will quit today.  And next week we'll be in Greece for the Maths Conference that will change your life."

She smiled. "Splendid.  And the money will fall from the sky."

"Listen.," Tom He rolled over the top sheet.  His body glistened from the high heat in the air temperature.  "You are a good programmer.  And a damned good analyst.  You'll find another job in a flash."

"And if --"

"Then we'll just manage without it.  Stuff real life, honey baby.  This is your dream.  Don't you dare run away."