Ross’s novel begins as many mysteries do, with a murder. David Pepin’s wife suspiciously dies from anaphylactic shock after having eaten peanuts, and we reader’s are led to believe that David may be to blame. From this beginning the novel develops into a fascinating and tender portrait of a complicated marriage, albeit under the guise of violence. You’ll find yourself pulled into the story by the suspense of it, to be sure, and also by a narrator that examines his life with a woman he both loves and hates. If you’re interested in a unique mystery with a healthy serving of literary realism, and if strong language and overt sexual content doesn’t offend you, you’ll enjoy Mr. Peanut for the strange and compelling way Ross examines difficult relationships.