The medical examiner quickly determines that one victim, an unidentified twenty-year-old female died from a drug overdose. The second casualty was the owner of the palatial home, a wealthy widow, Lenora Hinson. Hinson’s death was the result of a blow to the head, which, according to the medical examiner could have been caused by a fall or a by being hit with the proverbial blunt instrument. Needless to say, Alvarez and Faulkner have their work cut out for them since it is likely that neither woman died as a result of the ceiling collapse.

To make matters more complicated, according to the anonymous tip, there was an infant in one of the rooms upstairs in the house. This turns out to be true. The detectives have several questions to answer with regard to the case. Is the infant the daughter of the drug overdose victim? What was the purpose of the concealed room? Were the deaths of the women accidental or were they murdered and, if so, by whom?

Alvarez calls in Tory Travers, head of an engineering firm, and his would be lover, to determine the probable cause of the ceiling collapse. After much measurement and calculation, Travers is sure that the column has been pulled from its initial position, probably with a rope by someone located far enough outside the room to avoid injury from falling debris. Alvarez must discover the identity of this someone, and his or her relevance to the deaths of the two women.

Although just recently published in paperback, Framework for Death appeared in hardcover form in 1998 and was an Anthony Award Best Novel Nominee for that year. It is easy to see why. Not only is the plot unusual and complex, yet easy to follow, its characters are well-drawn and engaging, and the dialogue is witty and thought-provoking.

What at first seems a rather bizarre murder method -- that of death by ceiling collapse, it becomes rapidly clear that the deaths are indeed, a separate act, but are probably tangentially related. It seems that the ceiling collapse is the author’s vehicle for introducing her heroine into the story -- perhaps the most obvious flaw in an otherwise well thought out book. That having been said, the remainder of the pieces of the plot come together quite logically and neatly without any loose ends.

The characters are diverse. Alvarez is part Hispanic, from a decidedly disadvantaged background. Travers is the daughter of a wealthy politician who showed a definite lack of parenting skills in rearing his daughter. As a result, Tory has some difficulty relating to people. One of the victims, the elderly Lenora Hinson, although already dead on page one, shows her domineering personality through many of the other characters in the story. Predictably, there are a host of people who are not mourning her death in the least.

Perhaps the most striking asset that Ms. Schumacher demonstrates in Framework for Death is her ability to write fantastic dialogue. It is witty, providing an off-beat sense of humor. In commenting on the dog’s muzzle when she finished drinking, Alvarez notes “ Lucky this dog lives in a dry climate or it would get mildew on its face.” The dialogue also offers insight. Alvarez again. “Operating outside the law is never an answer. We have to believe it. …. All the things that separate us from the rest of the animal kingdom cease to function.” Ironically, Alvarez does one thing at the end of the book which opposes this viewpoint.

Despite the fact that there is little reason for Tory Travers to participate in the plot after offering her expertise on the ceiling collapse, she does provide an interesting contrast to David Alvarez who moves the major story line. She also gives the author a chance to express a female point of view, and adds a love interest for Alvarez. This book is basically Alvarez’s show and he carries it off quite well. I look forward to seeing these folks in their next adventure.

--Andy Plonka