ANTHONY OLIVER – Property of a Lady. Doubleday Crime Club, US, hardcover, 1983. Paperback reprint: Fawcett Crest, 1985. UK edition: William Heinemann, hc, 1983.

   Oliver’s first mystery, The Pew Group (reviewed here ) was hilarious. His second is funny, but the hilarity is muted. Admittedly nosy Lizzie Thomas, 58 and Welsh, housekeeper to retired Chief Inspector John Webber, cannot help being funny, and when she’s around there are plenty of chuckles. But there is a serious situation, and even Lizzie has to take it so.

   Margaret Garland, a young single woman of property, has picked up a hitchhiker on the road. He’s young and attractive, on his way to visit his mother who’s staying at Henworth Hall, a m�nage for ladies who want to lose weight. She, however, wants nothing to do with him.

   But Margaret falls in love. Further, the young man is an antique expert and wants to set up a shop. After Lizzie has seen one disturbing episode through her binoculars, she enlists Webber and her son-in-law, antique dealer Jimmy “Betsy” Trotwood, in helping her find out more about Mark Carter and his antecedents.

   What they find is more disturbing still. Unfortunately, there’s nothing much they can do with their information, and the situation has to work itself out with a gigantic explosion at the end.