Since Chris reported the murder before it was a murder - and since she had an earlier unpleasant encounter with Platt when her three-year-old son, Eddie, slammed into him with a shopping cart - she's immediately drawn to the case and begins to engage in her own patented brand of low-key sleuthing, quickly gaining access to Platt's widow and daughter-in-law, and delving into Platt family history.

As always, former nun Chris relies heavily on the kindness of strangers - or at least on their willingness to answer her questions. She inspires confidence and has little difficulty in uncovering some rather intriguing secrets; her husband, Jack Brooks, also has connections with the local police department, which doesn't hurt when Chris is trying to track down information.

As has become standard for this series, Chris's careful digging finds elements from the past that resonate in the present and provide clues to the murder; among them are the discovery of Platt's mysterious first wife, the particulars of an old bullet wound found during Platt's autopsy, and the truth about a fatal car accident - as well as some local political intrigue over real estate. After her usual trek to her old convent to discuss the case with her former superior and friend, Sister Joseph, Chris begins to pull together the disparate strands of her investigation and uncovers Willard Platt's killer.

Well-drawn and multidimensional supporting characters are a hallmark of this series, and this title does not disappoint; Platt's distraught widow, his estranged adult son, and his longtime friend are all deftly drawn, as is Platt himself. Unlike other series that are populated by quirky caricatures, the Chris Bennett books offer seemingly real, complex people - and believable motives.

A few cracks are beginning to show in the series, however. Although Chris's appeal lies largely in her simple goodness and fundamental kindness, she may be in danger of seeming a little too perfect, like a fifties-era sitcom mom who solves mysteries instead of baking apple pies. Her family life, too, is rather idyllic - supportive husband; adorable son; and sweet mentally deficient cousin happily institutionalized.

In addition, the obligatory chat with Sister Joseph to clarify her thoughts about the case - and to remind the reader of Chris's past as a nun, something that seems less important as the character continues to evolve - seems a bit forced this time around. One also wonders about the willingness of total strangers to discuss their long-held secrets with Chris, when she has no official standing whatsoever. Most jarring, however, is Chris's willingness to drag her three-year-old son around with her while she's investigating - she blithely puts him in potential danger when they go driving with Platt's widow, who was involved years ago in the car accident that killed her grandson and hadn't driven since.

Still, these are only minor quibbles. The April Fools' Day Murder is an interesting and well-written book with sympathetic characters, a sense of reality without in-your-face realism, and a pleasant heroine well-grounded in day-to-day life, an amateur sleuth who serves the cause of justice without being judgmental.

--Eleanor Mikucki