Book Review
Idaho Code

By Joan Opyr
Reviewed by Bill London
from the April 2005 Newsletter

What are the clues that this new mystery book, Idaho Code, is actually about Moscow? Well first, the book is set in the mythical community of Cowslip, described as a small Idaho college town with a population of about 25,000. Second, the book and the town are filled with the delightfully quirky crackpots that wander along the edge between funny (ha-ha) and funny (peculiar).

But the best evidence is the fact that the author is our own humor/opinion columnist, Auntie Establishment, whose wit has sliced and bludgeoned across the pages of the Co-op’s newsletter for several years now.

Yup, Joan Opyr brings her steel-toed boots, her wild imagination, and her in-your-face lesbianism to this, her first novel.

You will not be disappointed. 

Joan carves out some great characters, especially the hero of this mystery, Wilhelmina Hardy, known as Bil to her friends (I would like the book for that alone). Will Bil figure out who is buried beneath the syringa bush? How will Bil “come out” to her parents? Will Bil find true love?

And true to the mystery genre, Joan throws in clues and a twisting plot line that really does keep the reader going. At our house, Gina, the hardcore consumer of mystery books, finished the book in a couple of days, before I even got a chance to grab it. And Gina’s verdict: a very good book, with all the right mystery elements and plenty of fun.

I agree. Get yourself a copy, and be prepared for a good read and at least one good giggle.

And be comforted. The really good news is that Bil will be back. Joan is working now on a sequel.

You can get a copy at BookPeople or borrow one at the Moscow library.

Bill London edits this newsletter and remains enamored with his granddaughter, Leyna Grace, whose bright eyes, toothless smile, and totally-tweakable cheeks enlivened his life during a recent two-week visit.

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