Current Book Review and Discussion:
Marjorie Beach reviewed Barbara Paul's He Huffed and He Puffed. She reported an Englishwoman named Barbara Ovstedahl once wrote under the name "Barbara Paul" but abandoned this when the "real" Barbara Paul appeared on the scene. The name confusion still persists, as some of Ovstedahl's early books are still attributed to Barbara Paul. Paul, herself, says "It's easy to tell our books apart. If it's mystery or science fiction, I wrote it If it's romance, she wrote it."
Barbara Paul of Pittsburgh is a former English and drama teacher with a working theater background. She earned a BA from Bowling Green State University before studying in Norway and Austria. She has an MA and a Ph.D. Her historical mystery series features opera stars Enrico Caruso and Geraldine Farrar as amateur sleuths. Paul also writes a police series featuring NYPD officer Marian Larch and her friend Kelly Ingram, television actress. There are four "Enrico Carusos" from 1984 to 1987; there are six "Marian Larches" from 1984 to 1995, with He Huffed and He Puffed in 1989. Marjorie reported she couldn't find any personal information on Paul but had her web address and sent her a memo, asking for some biographical information. Barbara Paul answered, saying that she keeps her personal life private. "I'll tell you this much: I have one son, three cats and 11,000 books. Mostly I'm a refugee from Academia . . . . one I have abandoned with no regrets."
Paul has written science fiction, as well as mysteries. One reviewer of her mysteries wrote that "Paul's novels are exceptional for their analysis of the darker facets of the human personality. She does not include whimsical elements, amusing turns of phrase or individuals who provide comic relief for the grim plots." Another reviewer said He Huffed and Puffed was a story of an attempted corporate takeover . . .. Except for the police detectives who bring their exhausted but inoffensive presence to the proceedings three-quarters of the way through the novel, there is nary a truly sympathetic character," but goes on to praise her skill and flair. The New York Times Book Review described this novel as "a comic mystery . . . a bright and clever nursery tale"
The consensus of the Mystery Buffs present were unanimous: no one liked the book. The idea of different perspectives was a good one, but no one thought she was that good a writer. There was no sympathy; it was charmless. The beginning was interesting with expectations that something would happen--but it was not funny, nor was anyone likable.