A Kidnapping, but by Whom? (The Puzzled Heart by Amanda Cross, 1999)

 Amanda Cross. The Puzzled Heart. (1997) Kate’s husband Reed is kidnapped. The kidnappers want Kate to publish a renunciation of feminism, “or else.” Thus begins a novel that’s merely interesting until Reed is liberated about halfway through. His minders are three female undergrads who tried to seduce him, in order to get salacious photos which would further embarrass Kate. The girls have no idea who is behind the prank.

So now the puzzle is, Who stage-managed the show, and why? An acquaintance suggests that it’s someone whom Kate somehow offended many years ago. It’s too personal to be merely a prank by religionist agitators for family values. At this point, I began to want to know more about Kate and her background, always a good sign. Kate and Reed end up with a St Bernard puppy, as was utterly predictable from the first entrance of the fluffball.

The books ends better than it began, but it’s not Cross’s best work. **½