Lena
London has always wanted to be a writer like Camilla Graham,
Lena’s favorite mystery suspense author. When she gets
a job as assistant to help Camilla write her next novel, it’s
a dream come true. After Lena and her cat Lastrade move to
Camilla’s lakeside Victorian home in Blue Lake, Indiana,
Lena discovers that Camilla is everything Lena thought she’d
be: a bit reserved, yet friendly and open to suggestions.
And Lena’s cat fortunately gets along well with Camilla’s
two large German Shepherds, who serve as Camilla’s protectors.
Lena meets and befriends the reclusive Sam West, who is accused
of murdering his missing wife. Later that same day, Lena and
Camila find a man’s body on the lakeshore, bringing
police detective Douglas Heller in to investigate. Doug suspects
Sam, already suspect in another murder. But Lena knows that
if Sam didn’t kill Martin Jonas, there could be two
murderers in town, and two mysteries to solve.
This book hooked me from the first page. Gothic mysteries
have always been my favorite, with troubled heroes who gain
the heroines’ sympathies and love, and entice readers’
compassion. Sam West fits those qualities to a tee, and I
enjoyed Lena’s persistent attempts to discover the truth
about his missing wife. Then there’s a possible love
interest from the reserved Doug, who is attracted to Lena
but is far too busy doing his job to follow through.
What I most loved about this captivating story are the two
main characters. Lena is a sympathetic and talented aspiring
writer with imagination, the perfect complement to Camilla’s
artistic endeavors. The two complement each other well, both
in writing and in solving real crimes. And judging from the
cliffhanger ending, their sleuthing partnership has just begun.
A Dark and Stormy Murder is an enticing, atmospheric
and suspenseful read – and one not to be missed.
Reviews
of other titles in this series
A
Dark and Stormy Murder #1
Death
in Dark Blue #2
A
Dark and Twisting Path #3
Reviewer's
Note: Julia Buckley is the author of the Undercover Dish
Mystery series, including The
Big Chili, and the Writer’s Apprentice Mysteries,
including A
Dark and Stormy Murder. She is a member of the Mystery
Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the Romance Writers
of America, along with the Chicago Writer’s Association. |