Invasive Species

Adams (the Book Retreat Mystery series) skillfully blends a satire of suburban life in 1980s Long Island with horror as several women clash with Mrs. Smith, a creepy recluse with outsize influence in their small town. Mrs. Smith is actually a monster, the Mother of Eels, who, when she swims, is “a harpoon in animal form.” Her neighbors, unaware of her true nature, set out to prevent Mrs. Smith from foiling their various plans. Natalie Scott, for instance, hopes her new occupation as a real estate broker will free her from the drudgery of being a housewife, but the decrepit state of Mrs. Smith’s mansion threatens the market value of homes in the neighborhood. Elaine Bernstein wants her son Charles’s bar mitzvah to be spectacular enough to make his schoolmates desperate to attend, but she needs Mrs. Smith’s permission for a fireworks display. As these women work to get Mrs. Smith to change her ways, she seeks to “devour the flesh of nine man-children” so that she can be reborn in the tradition of her ancestors. Only Icelandic housekeeper Una Einarsson, who believes in sea monsters, and Natalie’s 12-year-old daughter, Jill, stand in her way. Adams crafts a humorous portrait of small town life and tops off the fast-paced plot with a satisfying ending that doesn’t pull punches. This impresses. (Apr.)