Dominic Benedetti and Claire Watkins are the two police
consultants who've retired to Maine's Mooseamuck Island in this cozy mystery
series. Book three in the series has the
mature duo embark on an investigation into a very old murder mystery that is
linked to pirate treasure. It also is
linked to an old friend of Claire's, which pushes her to investigate further,
with Dom's help.
Italian-American Dom Benedetti, and the Italian-American police
detective, Zambuco, who sometimes allows the retired duo to help with a case,
add some Italophile flavor to the stories.
Dom, especially, is very fond of Italian pastries which he uses to numb
the pain of the loss of his beloved wife.
Claire aims for a healthier lifestyle.
Book One
The mystery story begins right away with the discovery of a
body. The book follows the cozy genre
norm of clues, suspects, theorizing, another murder, and the resolution that
involves some danger for our amateur detectives and their loved ones.
The author is very good about bringing readers up-to-date on
the regular cast of characters, the setting, and events from the previous two
books in the series. I would suggest
reading the books in order.
The books in the series are:
- A Zen for Murder (reviewed on this site)
- A Crabby Killer
- A Treacherous Treasure
Book Two
Quiet Mooseamuck Island is at times too quiet for Dom and
Claire, so the crimes that occur liven up their retirement considerably. While the police detective doesn't usually
invite them to consult on investigations, the duo often use the poor man as an
excuse for getting involved.
...you know what can happen with Zambuco. He's liable to incarcerate the wrong person!
A cat and pet canaries keep the retirees company, and even
seem to contribute to conversations at time.
That's just part of the light note the author likes to keep for this
very cozy cozy-mystery.
The writing is clear, direct, not difficult, and all the
loose ends are wrapped up nicely at the end, including a clear explanation of
the case. The setting is picturesque,
and the there are some lovely descriptions of the views and homes. This book, and the whole series, is pleasant,
clean, easy-reading, relaxing fun.
From the book's description:
Rumor has it that Captain Kidd buried treasure on Mooseamuck Island. But when an old pirate chest is unearthed, the contents reveal a deadly surprise that plunges the island into the middle of a sixty year old murder mystery.
With fingers pointing at several of our favorite Islanders, Dom and Claire must team up once again to get to the bottom of things. A twisty path of suspects and clues, brings them to the horrifying realization that one of their closest friends may be involved.
When another murder strikes fear into the hearts of the Islander's, Dom and Claire team up with an unlikely ally in order to save the island from a dangerous killer who thinks they can get away with murder.
Here is a direct link to the book at Amazon.com:
Please visit the author's website.
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