Shaded Light, by N.J. Lindquist (MurderWillOut Mysteries, 2005)
It’s the July long weekend, and there’s a house party at George and Ellen Brodie’s new mansion in an exclusive Toronto community. Expected guests: their son, his close friend, Ellen’s country cousin, both of George’s lawyer business partners and their wives.
But there are also unexpected guests, three to be exact: a black sheep nephew, an ex-wife, and a wallflower sister.
Add in two household staff to complete the picture.
At least one of the fourteen will die before the party’s over. Because at least one other among them a murderer.
Shaded Light reads more like a contemporary Agatha Christie novel than a police procedural. Instead of Hercule Poirot, readers meet Detective-Inspector Paul Manziuk (man’s-hook) and rookie detective Jacqueline Ryan. He’s experienced, old-school and white, she’s young, female and black.
Manzuik’s under pressure to catch a serial killer who leaves no clues, and now he’s handed the Brodie case too. He doesn’t have time to find out if Ryan can do the job… or if she’s just a political appointment.
To solve the case, Manzuik and Ryan must pierce the suspects’ outer facades and untangle the secrets within. It’s fun to watch them learn to work together along the way.
Shaded Light is book one in the Manzuik and Ryan mystery series, followed by Glitter of Diamonds.
N.J. Lindquist is a Canadian author, speaker and teacher who writes fiction and non-fiction for adults and young adults. She’s a founding director of The Word Guild, co-editor of the Hot Apple Cider anthologies, and she’s usually juggling two or three projects at a time. You can learn more about the author at N.J. Lindquist Books.
Reviewed by Janet Sketchley
You can read Janet Sketchley’s reviews and thoughts on faith at Tenacity. http://janetsketchley.wordpress.com/
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