Jan is killed during a reminiscent slumber party. While meant to be a night of memories and old-fashioned girl talk, it instead rehashes bruised egos, hurt feelings, and long standing grudges. Now Ginger is trying to unmask a killer that could very well be a member of the clique.

What makes Farewell Performance a memorable addition to this series is the intriguing mystery. Donna Huston Murray does a fabulous job giving readers a laundry list of suspects and motives that keep one guessing right up to the last chapters. Every time I thought I had figured out the murderer, I was introduced to someone else with another compelling motive.

I also enjoyed the manner in which the reader is introduced to the crime. The story opens right up with the murder, and events prior to Jan’s death are woven together through a series of flashbacks during Ginger’s police interview. I found this style very readable, and quite riveting in several spots, making the unfolding of the crime the most exciting part of the story.

While I enjoyed the characters and the mystery, I did find it necessary to suspend belief during some moments of the story -- mainly Ginger’s close involvement with the police investigation. Readers have to be able to readily accept that the police are willing to have civilians who discover dead bodies aid in the case. While Ginger’s snooping isn’t blatant, the cops do know what she is up to. In fact, they never try to stop her or threaten her with legal action. The main man on the case even comes to Ginger asking for any information she’s found out.

This is the first Ginger Barnes Main Line book that I have read, and I did find the character and the story enjoyable. Readers who like amateur sleuths will find Ginger an enjoyable member of the field.

--Wendy Crutcher