The duo have been hired by local psychic Cassandra Bean to cater a banquet for her honored aunt, America Elizabeth -- who has been dead for several years. Not only is that strange but the entire Bean household is definitely weird. Aunt Julia, the reigning matriarch, is approaching senility very rapidly. Cassandra turns up dead when they arrive -- she just does not stay in her coffin, which is in the room next to Jane. Oh, there is a terrific storm and the bridge is washed out, precipitating the stay of Hillary and Jane in the Bean household. Cousin Lotus takes over the hostessing duties, while Uncle Bruce, cousin Winston, cousin Katrin, and Aunt Lizzie flitter here and there. When Uncle Bruce ends up dead, too, things disintegrate rapidly.

A telephone repairman is able to repair the phone momentarily, but then appears again dressed this time as a minister to hold the wake for Uncle Bruce. Add to the anxiety the threat of an escaped convict from a nearby prison, and you have the picture of what Hillary and Jane have to endure. Jane is the leader when it comes to investigating and snooping, while Hillary dithers beside her, blaming Jane for the whole mess. At one point she tells the police that she didn't really mean to find Bruce's body while Jane went looking for it deliberately.

The repartee is delightful, but the mystery itself is rather confusing. Dead bodies seem to appear and disappear, along with ghosts -- or are they? Deathday Party is a light, fun mystery with some very wacky characters. Jane is delightful while Hillary is a little stereotypical as the wacky, dithering perfectionist who is mortified to appear in wrinkled slacks, but finds nothing wrong about catering a wake and decorating the house for same. The characters are mostly solid and uniquely quirky.

--Kay Black