Lynda Curnyn Killer Summer

Killer Summer

Lynda Curnyn

Zoe, Sage and Nick look forward to sharing the beach house for the entire summer on Fire Island, New York as guests of documentary filmmaker Maggie Landon. However, even before they can use their first drops of suntan lotion, Maggie's naked corpse is found on the beach.

Maggie's spirit watches her friends and her spouse go on as if nothing happened to her. Her spouse Tom even has the audacity of throwing summer parties. No one mourns for her and in fact everyone seems happier without her. However, Zoe feels guilty about not seeming to care and wonders how Maggie's husband keeps partying when he should be grieving and wondering who killed his wife unless he knows. She also observes that Nick is not himself as if he struggles with secrets perhaps dealing with Maggie. Finally Sage acts as if Maggie possessed her soul trying to score as because any moment she might go to the great beyond. Zoe needs to learn the truth even if it means putting a damper on the summer including breaking her heart.

Ironically the unpopular Maggie in the afterlife is the best character of this chick lit amateur sleuth tale as her commentaries on the reactions to her murder are amusing and fun. Zoe runs a fine second as her conscience guides her and she could have carried the tale. Instead the alternating chapters between the cast jars the reader though providing differing perspective especially explicit descriptive that is not always needed. Still Zoe's investigation into her friends and Maggie's lament make for an overall humorous fun tale.

Red Dress, Jun 2005, $12.95, 336 pp.

ISBN: 0373895224

Harriet Klausner