"Her Majesty" is in fact the aged and rather daunting Clare Templeton Forbes, ex-lover of the famous American modernist poet Orrin Forbes. Dido doesn't understand Clare's rush to sell the books, but she knows her shop could profit nicely from them, so she goes ahead with the deal. It's then that the trouble begins.

Things turn nasty when there is a fire at Clare's house the night she dies. Then Dido finds a valuable stolen manuscript in her car, and is arrested. Who would want Clare dead, and why? Who would want to frame Dido, and why?

Dido is determined to find out the answers to these questions. After all, she needs to stay out of jail long enough to sell her books to keep her cat, Mr. Spock, in Whiskas, and her baby, Ben, in Pampers.

Dido Hoare, antiquarian book dealer, can hardly believe her luck when she is offered the opportunity to buy Clare Templeton Forbes's (otherwise known as Her Majesty) book collection. And in spite of the warnings both from another book dealer and her father, Dido eagerly makes her way to Oxford to peruse the collection and make an offer. She is surprised and thrilled to find amongst the collection of 19th century books, a comprehensive collection of Orrin Forbes first editions. Orrin Forbes was a minor American modernist poet and Clare's ex-lover. Realising that she is out of her league here, Dido suggests that Clare get hold of one of the more prestigious auction houses to handle these rare books. But Clare refuses, claiming that she needs the money now so that she can move form her falling apart Oxford home into something more modern. (She also wants everyting done quietly and without her daughter's knowledge.) Dido is leery. There seems to be something suspicious afoot but she has no idea what. And Dido fears she's being manipulated by Clare but is not sure to what end. And then Clare shows her a manuscript of Forbes's missing canto, and wishes to know if Dido will buy it. Extracting from this rather sticky situation, Dido pays a few books and leaves. That very night, Clare dies apparently from having set her bed afire from a lighted cigarette. And the next morning, Dido finds the missing Forbes manuscript in a box of books she bought just as the police arrive to search her premises in search of said manuscript. It turns out that Clare was murdered. Dido feels as if she's being set up -- but is it for murder or theft? With her reputation as a legitimate dealer on the line, Dido plunges in to discover who planted the missing canto on her and who murderd Clare and uncovers quite abit more than she bargained for.

"Smoke Screen" was a roller-coaster of a read. I was fairly glued to the pages as I read along, following Dido's every move as she tried to work out what was happening to her and who was fitting her up and for what. The novel unfolded smoothly and briskly. And Marianne MacDonald's prose style made this book all the more enjoyable and fun. So, if you're lloking for a good biblio-mystery, look no further -- "Smoke Screen" is just the ticket, and is just the thing to curl up enjoy on a rainy day.


Smoke Screen   June 9, 2000
HaggisinDE (Delaware City, De)
2 out of 4 found this review helpful

Good insight into the perils and tribulations of a single mother with a witty, protective dad and then, with all of that she solves a rather unique and interesting crime. With a "locked door" scene no less. My interest in the antique book world led me to read it, my interest in the author and her books will lead me to the rest of her works.


Entertaining!   April 25, 2000
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

I have only read one other book in this series, but I really like the character of Dido. Coping with the day-to-day tribulations of single motherhood and running her own business, Dido is a believable, engaging heroine who can't resist getting involved in an intriguing mystery. I'm a big fan of Grafton and Paretsky, but it's refreshing to get immersed in the low-keyed world of an English bookseller who just happens to have adventures fall into her lap. And Kinsey and V.I. never have to worry about getting back in time for the babysitter. I did enjoy Ghostwalk a bit more, but while you might quickly figure out the mysteries behind the action here, Smoke Screen is still a fun ride.