Down by the Riverside
By Jackie Lynn
St. Martin’s Minotaur, 2006, $24.95
Although this is the first book by Jackie Lynn, it’s not the first for the author, whose real moniker is Lynne Hinton, known in our area for her Hope Springs trilogy of “Friendship Cake,” “Hope Springs” and “Forever Friends,” as well as other books.
In this mystery we meet Rose Franklin. Rose, whose husband has dumped her for a younger woman, takes off for a new life out West. She pulls behind her car a travel trailer — the only thing she really wanted from the divorce.
Rose makes it as far as West Memphis, Ark., before her car gives up the ghost. One of the locals suggests she get a spot at the Shady Grove Campground, right on the Mississippi, while she’s waiting. He even volunteers to tow the trailer out there for her.
As they are making their way to the campground, the two see emergency vehicles on the road. It seems that the body of Lawrence Franklin, a local mortician, has been found — supposedly a suicide.
Rose, who has just begun using the name Franklin (her mother’s maiden name), finds it ironic that they both have the same name. She can’t help but be interested in the case, which the police don’t seem to be investigating as thoroughly as they ought.
Rose also meets Tom Sawyer (yep, that’s his name), Lawrence’s best friend. She quickly falls in love with him, but has she jumped the gun?
Rose is determined to find out the real truth about Franklin’s death.
As those who have read the novels of Lynne Hinton might guess, Jackie Lynn’s story has a bit of the spiritual thrown in for good measure. This enjoyable mystery has a soothing quality in its descriptions.
The author and her husband moved back to North Carolina recently, but they still spend time in New Mexico.
Darkness and Light
By John Harvey
Harcourt, 2006, $25
This is the third of Harvey’s series featuring Frank Elder, a retired policeman who now lives in Cornwall.
Elder and his wife, Joanne, are divorced. He and his daughter, Katherine, now at the university, aren’t comfortable communicating because of an incident that happened to her as a result of one of his cases.
When Joanne asks him to look into the disappearance of her friend’s widowed sister, Claire, Frank agrees with reluctance. At least he’ll have a chance to see Katherine while he’s in Nottingham.
Some of his questions reveal some interesting facts about Claire and what she may have been doing. They hope she’ll turn up — and she does, but not alive.
Frank’s former partner, Maureen Price, is now a detective inspector with the Serious Crime Unit. At her request, Frank helps with the murder investigation behind the scenes.
Something about Claire’s murder reminds Frank of another case, and he takes a look back at that in hopes that he will find the murderer.
Harvey is also the author of the prize-winning crime series that features Charlie Resnick.
Faye Dasen may be reached at fdasen@thepilot.com or at 693-2475.
