Murder in a Pig's Eye offers those literary qualities most looked for by fans of mystery fiction: a taut, wellpaced plot and interesting characters.

Accordingly, readers who desire only lifelike narratives may be disappointed. Bodie's final bravado, for example, is less than believable, given his previously established character; unlikely coincidences abound; and some of the book's minor characters are flat, one-dimensional, "cookie-cutter" figures. But both the improbable plot and the stock characters are perfectly in keeping with Hall's aims for this novel.

Escapist fiction provides its audience with an alternative reality, one that may seem distinctly more exciting (and therefore more inviting) than the real world. Therefore, books such as Murder in a Pig's Eye supply solid entertainment: From the safe position of audience, the reader is able to join Bodie's funny and suspenseful search for the missing Bella and to meet, along the way, a...