Wendy Howell Mills Island Intrigue

Island Intrigue

Wendy Howell Mills

Poisoned Pen Press, Dec 2005, $24.95, 254 pp.

ISBN 1590582179

All her life Sabrina Dunsweeney has been under the control of her alcoholic domineering mother who chose her career for her and made it impossible for her to date. After her mother dies she finds a lump in her breast that turns out to be benign. After surviving these two traumas, Sabrina needs some time off to relax and find out who she is. She travels to the small and isolated Comico Island and rents a house from Nellie Wrightly.

Her arrival coincides with the election for the President of the Sanitary Concessionary, a political office that often provides a stepping stone to the state senate. Brad Tittletott is running unopposed even after a fire burns down his office and his childhood friend Rollo Wrightley returns to the island for the first time in years. He left after being accused of committing a crime by Brad and his mother. Rollo wants justice for being railroaded fifteen years ago but before he can reveal the secrets that the Tittletotts want to keep hidden, he is murdered. Sabrina, who met and liked him does some investigating independent of the police in the hopes of unearthing a very disturbed killer.

ISLAND INTRIGUE is a fascinating amateur sleuth tale written by an author who is loaded with talent. Her ability to describe island life and the residents who live there adds an exotic dimension of depth to a fascinating who done it. Sabrina is a person trying to find herself and while doing so make a place for herself with the islanders who come to consider her a friend. This reviewer looks forward to more mysteries starring this multi-dimensional heroine.

Harriet Klausner