Newly retired Boston Police officer Lucy O'Donnell invites Meilan Lin to join her on a vacation to the Caribbean Island of St. Hilaire. When a young man is found dead in the hot tub, Lucy has to use her skills as a homicide detective to keep Meilan from arrest.
Was it a mistake to invite Meilan? Lucy has to question the wisdom of what she thought was a good deed when her new friend is implicated in the murder of the Chinese businessman. Is the crime rooted in the Chinese Cultural Revolution in the past, or in the future of the island of St. Hilaire?
Praise for Frances McNamara’s previous novels
“McNamara packs in fascinating and edifying period details while never losing sight of the riveting mystery plot. Historical fiction fans won’t want to miss this one.” Publisher’s Weekly starred review for book 8 of Emily Cabot Mysteries
“Set in 1918 Chicago, McNamara’s excellent ninth Emily Cabot mystery (after 2020’s Death on the Home Front) finds Emily’s physician husband, Stephen, serving on the front lines of the Spanish Influenza epidemic… This timely novel informs as much as it entertains.” Publisher’s Weekly starred review book 9 Emily Cabot Mysteries
“Overall, Molasses is a real treat. Settings and back stories about the time period run smoothly. Particularly delicious is the unexpected denouement. This reader, for one, looks forward to the next Nutshell mystery.” Historical Novel Society book 1 Nutshell Murder Mysteries
“This book is a delight for fans of stories set in the early days of forensic science. It presents characters determined enough to test authority and patient enough to test theory against practice. It also offers details about time and place, political and social situations, and major historical figures. In this case: the days before Prohibition, the Brahmins vs. the workers, and former Boston mayor “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald. Suitably twisty-turny and yet surprising; plot resolution centers not only on the usual forensic suspects—bullets, fingerprints—but also on a piece of delicate handiwork." Historical Novel Society book 2 Nutshell Murder Mysteries
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