Brush with Death (The Gray Whale Inn Mysteries)
Natalie Barnes, owner of the Grey Whale Inn on Maine’s scenic Cranberry Island, is looking forward to a big art show on the island at which her niece, Gwen, will exhibit her work. Gwen is stressed, however, because the show’s organizer wants oils rather than Gwen’s signature watercolors, and Natalie is distracted when a foreclosure notice on the inn arrives; her lawyer has disappeared, and she may owe $15,000. In addition, Natalie’s fiancé’s mother is coming to stay at the inn, adding to Natalie’s challenges. When Gwen’s art mentor is found dead in his home, Natalie and Gwen, convinced it wasn’t suicide, begin to investigate. Art provides most of the ambience this time, but recipes are included, as always, and there is plenty of vivid Maine scenery, too, helping to support the engaging, multifaceted cast. --Amy Alessio