Part of Blue Ridge Library Mysteries, book 9
First published 2025
Amy Muir has never fully trusted Kurt Kendrick, despite his role as godfather to her six-year-old twins. The wealthy art dealer carries secrets from his past that make the library director uneasy. During the town's summer arts festival, a visitor publicly accuses Kurt of committing murder decades ago. When that same accuser turns up dead, Amy decides she must prove Kurt's innocence. The evidence tells a different story. Sheriff Brad Tucker receives materials from the victim that implicate Kurt in the old crime. Amy's aunt and other longtime residents confirm details about the first murder. A witness places Kurt near the second crime scene. While her husband Richard prepares his new dance company for their festival premiere, Amy struggles to balance her investigation with work and family duties. Her own doubts about Kurt grow stronger as friends and relatives question his innocence. Amy must discover the real killer before they strike again.
Genres: american-fiction, mystery, crime, contemporary, adult, adult-fiction
Vibes: character-driven, engaging, intricate, small-town, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, investigation-uncovers-truth, small-town-secrets, unreliable-suspect
Setting: library, small town
Period: contemporary, summer
304 pages · Paperback · Crooked Lane Books
Content warnings: death, murder