Author: Jude Deveraux
Series: A Medlar Mystery
Publication: MIRA; Original edition (September 18, 2018)
Description: New York Times bestselling romance author Jude Deveraux makes her debut in the world of mystery with a story of old secrets, deadly grudges and an improbable group of friends who are determined to uncover the truth regardless of the consequences…
Sara Medlar is a household name in romance, with millions of books sold. But lately, retirement has been boring her and she’s found herself back in her hometown of Lachlan, Florida, remodeling the grand old mansion she’d admired as a child. It’s much too big for her alone, but she’d die before letting anyone in town know that.
Then Sara’s niece Kate is offered a job in Lachlan—a start in what could be a very successful career in real estate. She accepts immediately, but with so little saved up, she’ll have to approach her estranged yet incredibly famous aunt for a place to stay while she gets herself settled. But when she arrives at Sara’s home, she finds she’s not the only long-term houseguest. Jackson Wyatt already has his own room, and though it’s impossible to deny his good looks and charm—he’s clearly got her aunt wrapped around his finger—she’s also never met anyone who irritates her quite like Jack does.
However, when two skeletons are accidentally uncovered in the quiet town, this unlikely trio is suddenly thrust together by a common goal: to solve a mystery everyone else seems eager to keep under wraps. United by a sense of justice and the desire to right old wrongs, Sara, Kate and Jack will have to dig into Lachlan’s murky past to unravel the small town’s dark secrets and work to bring the awful truth to light.
My Thoughts: Kate Medlar is a real estate agent who learns that her aunt is famous author Sara Medlar. Wishing to get away from her three domineering uncles and her dependent mother, she accepts a job in Lachlan, Florida where her Aunt Sara has retired. Her mother does all she can to prejudice Kate against her aunt, but Kate is eager to see for herself. She also hopes to find out about the father her mother never talks about from his sister Sara.
When Kate arrives, she finds a pleasant and welcoming aunt who has a house guest. Jackson Wyatt is the contractor who remodeled Sara's home and is a sort of adopted grandson, the grandson of Sara's first love. Jack is in a cast from a recent accident that killed his younger brother and left him with a broken leg.
Unknown to the town's residents, Sara is Jack's silent partner in his remodeling business. The two of them take Kate to a recent purchase of Jack's to get her opinion as a realtor. It is an important house in Jack's memory since it was the home of his childhood crush Cheryl Morris. His eleven-year-old heart was broken when the sixteen-year-old and her mother disappeared on her birthday.
They arrive to find that weather has taken down a tree near the house and tangled in its roots are the skeletons of Cheryl and her mother Verna. Since the police aren't interested in the old crime, believing that Jack's biological father was likely the killer, Sara, Kate and Jack put on their detective clothes and decide to solve the case themselves. Unfortunately, someone doesn't want the case solved and soon there more deaths surrounding their investigation.
I enjoyed this story even though I had a pretty good idea of who the murder was rather early in the book. I liked the relationship between Sara and Kate. I also loved the relationship between Jack and Kate. Their bickering was amusing. I can't quite decide if there is a romance in their future or not and am eager to read more in the series to find out.
Favorite Quote:
"Everybody has problems, Jack. It's just what you do with them that makes the difference."I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.
I like the setting. Also the family stories that are bound to be interesting. That cover helps too.
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