It may seem odd to speak of light-hearted murder mysteries, but Babson's works are so farcical, and sometimes so ruefully and humorously truthful, that I rely on them to pick me up in low moments.

This is the first in Babson's series about Perkins & Tate (Public Relations) Ltd., the struggling young firm of partners Doug Perkins, the narrator, and ladies' man Gerry Tate, assisted by the youthful, but always game, teenage part-timer, Penelope. Fans of Babson will not be surprised to learn that their clients are desperate, eccentric or both. It may surprise them that it takes them until the second book to acquire a cat.

In this first book, the firm represents a demanding American singing and comedy act. Things are not happy within the group, some of whom are lacking sophistication, however, and Perkins and Tate struggle with hilarious desperation to keep the group from public self-destruction from gaffes or self-sabotage. ( )