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The Book of the Week

Engaging, entertaining mystery featuring a one-time big city policewoman, Claire Watkins, who moved to the small northern town of Fort St. Antoine to find a quieter life for herself and her young daughter Meg. When a bad winter storm blows into town over Thanksgiving, it seems to bring with it a series of violent acts, all linked to the same quiet, reserved townswoman, Stephanie Klaus. First Claire sees her in town with a black eye. Then Stephanie's boyfriend Buck is murdered -- tied inside his car, which is then pushed out onto the thin ice over Lake Pepin. Claire begins to wonder if Buck was Stephanie's abuser -- if she killed him to stop the attacks -- but before she can even really question her, Stephanie is found battered and near-death on her front lawn. Clearly someone else is involved but Stephanie won't say who. Is she protecting someone? Or is she too afraid of retribution to open up? The violence will continue if Claire doesn't find the killer, but how can she get Stephanie to trust her?

This was a fast-paced, well-plotted novel. I really enjoyed the characters and the setting and the storyline was creative and original. Quite happy to discover there are already others in this series! Recommended!

[MYSTERY]