Lake of Tears: A Claire Watkins Mystery
Deputy Sheriff Claire Watkins is enjoying a quiet summer in Fort St. Antoine, Wisconsin. She is a bit anxious about her daughter, Meg, who will be going off to college in the fall. The annual celebration of the autumnal equinox features the burning of a Norwegian longboat, and it always attracts a crowd. This year, more than the boat goes up in flames. When a camper notices some bones in the ashes, Claire has a murder case on her hands. Since her boss is recovering from a heart attack, she is acting sheriff and must coordinate the investigation. Her new deputy, Andrew Stickler, is a veteran returning from Afghanistan who is dealing with post-traumatic stress and, much to Claire’s chagrin, dating Meg. When the murder victim is identified as Andrew’s former girlfriend, things get complicated. To find the murderer, Claire will have to learn about Andrew’s war experiences and how they affected him. Logue effectively deepens her well-plotted, small-town mystery with a sensitive look at the issues faced by returning veterans. --Barbara Bibel--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.