Jennifer Stanley, The Way of the Guilty

The Way of the Guilty

Jennifer Stanley

St. Martin's, Aug 31 2010, $7.99

ISBN: 9780312376840

Cooper Lee has a good job, nice friends that she met at Hope Street Church who formed a Bible Study Group; a great boyfriend; and a wonderful family. Her sister Ashley does not feel as lucky because she wants a baby so badly but is having trouble conceiving due a medical condition. Ashley's husband owns a car dealership and when she is given a loaner she freaks out to find a body in the trunk.

Cooper is on her way to Ashley's house when she gets a flat. She meets ex-con Edward Crosby who feels he owes her for uncovering who killed his father. He takes her to Ashley's place and eventually the sisters learn the victim is Miguel Ramos who worked as a head lot attendant. Cooper wants justice done by catching Miguel's killer. However, she also learns he was involved in a shady operation because he lived in an expensive place, had expensive clothing and had a wad of money in his home. Shortly after Miguel was killed, the son of the title clerk was also murdered. Cooper feels the two people murdered are linked in some way and with Edward's help, she starts down a path that she hopes will lead to a cold blooded killer.

This inspirational mystery dramatically demonstrates that even the most diabolical person can change and seek redemption. Not preachy, this amateur sleuth focuses nevertheless on lessons learned that retain applicability today. This whodunit is riveting with a believable cast so the audience will complete the tale in one sitting.

Harriet Klausner