Following their first adventure (A Case of Bad Taste), 60-year-old writer Maude Diamond, daughter Cee Cee, and Maude's obstinate mother-in-law Stella are back. Worried about how Maude is going to pay all the bills, Stella "innocently" devises a plan to add to the family coffers by sending a chain letter to everyone in town asking for money. When Cee Cee points out that it is fraud to send such a letter, Stella fears that she is in hot water. Maude notices that Stella is acting strangely, and she assumes that her mother-in-law must have been duped into responding to the chain letter. This leads Maude to take surprising action. The strength of Copeland's series lies in her humorous take on small-town life and the craziness that can happen in families. A light read that may have crossover appeal for fans of mysteries with a dash of humor, such as Janet Evanovich's popular "Stephanie Plum" series. For public libraries. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.