Murder in the Park

June 1, 2020
The cathedral and university town of Durham, England, is the quaint setting of Dams' twenty-third Dorothy Martin mystery, after Death in the Garden City (2020). Dorothy, an American, and her English husband, retired police officer Alan Nesbit, are getting on in years, a happy find in a genre filled with whippersnapper detectives. When they visit a friend, David Tregarth, in Durham, they are faced with a deadly puzzle to solve, as David's aunt, who has dementia, has been accused of murdering a fellow resident in her nursing home. She will be evicted from her sanctuary if the real killer?who is also the possible perpetrator of other crimes?isn't run to ground. Dorothy and Alan's investigation gives readers an inside glimpse of life in a medieval town that's now a tourist haven, while the author's tale-telling and dialogue?the back and forth of a comfortable couple is wonderfully depicted?will also serve to draw readers in. Dams' followers know what to expect and will be happy to find it here.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

February 1, 2022
Set in 1925 in Oak Park, Illinois, this engaging story features young, attractive, wealthy Elizabeth Fairchild, whose happy life was nearly destroyed after she lost her husband in the war and, shortly afterwards, lost her unborn baby. Elizabeth tries to focus on the positive, using her wealth to help the needy and to fight gender, ethnic, and racial injustices. Then her dear friend, antiques dealer Mr. Anthony, is brutally murdered. When the police find out that he was originally from Italy, they're quick to arrest another Italian, a local music teacher, for the murder. Elizabeth is convinced the police have the wrong man and publicly vows to find the real killer. With the help of her father plus a handsome young lawyer, Ernest Hemingway's mother, and a sympathetic police officer, she accomplishes just that. A tenacious heroine, an involving plot that reveals the deep prejudices and divisions in 1920s society, and a happy ending make this a good choice for most mystery collections.

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February 21, 2022
Set in 1925 Oak Park, Ill., this gripping series launch from Agatha Award winner Dams (the Dorothy Martin series) finds Elizabeth Fairchild, a wealthy young widow who lives with her parents, depressed and lacking confidence. After Mr. Anthony, the town’s antique-shop owner and Elizabeth’s friend, is found murdered, she rouses herself and announces publicly she’s determined to find his killer. The revelation that Mr. Anthony was Italian triggers anti-Catholic bigotry to the extent of threats against Elizabeth for championing him. Her family’s house is broken into, and a cross is burned on their lawn. It seems that a female contingent of the Ku Klux Klan is active in Oak Park. One of Elizabeth’s few allies is real-life Grace Hemingway, Ernest’s mother, whose strong-minded character’s appearances are a highlight of the book. Elizabeth’s attempts to pit local members of the KKK against gangsters affiliated with Al Capone alternate with domestic scenes that show her learning to brew coffee and arguing with her status-obsessed mother. While the plot lacks nuance and complexity, those interested in social justice issues will find the picture of a prosperous town riven by racism memorable. Agent: Kimberley Cameron, Kimberley Cameron & Assoc.

January 1, 2022
This sea change from Dams' Dorothy Martin series introduces a new heroine with a lot to learn in 1920s Chicago. Seven years after Elizabeth Fairchild lost her husband on the day before the First World War ended and her severe depression caused her to miscarry, she's living in the wealthy Chicago suburb of Oak Park with her snobbish mother, whose mission in life is getting her to remarry, and her schoolteacher father. They have a cook, housemaid, and gardener; Elizabeth can't even boil an egg. Despite her liberal bent and all the committees she serves on, it takes the murder of a man she liked and respected to give her life purpose. Mr. Anthony ran a delightful antiques shop where Elizabeth often bought gifts. The police take the easy path after learning that his name was really Enrico Antonelli, identifying him as a member of the despised Italian community. Their contempt is shared by the local chapter of the Walosas Club, the women's arm of the KKK. Soon after Elizabeth calls on Ernest Hemingway's mother to help prove the innocence of a music teacher accused of the crime, she earns the enmity of the Walosas. When her safety is threatened, she takes refuge with the aunt of lawyer Fred Wilkins, who's in love with her, and between the two of them and several other friends, she learns to solve crimes and boil eggs. A heroine with plenty of scope for changing her life, which plays out against a fascinating time period.

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February 1, 2022

Elizabeth Walker Fairchild was only married for six months when her husband was killed in World War I, and she subsequently lost her baby. Now, in 1925, shelives with her parents in Oak Park, IL. She has few friends, but counts an Italian American antiques dealer, Mr. Anthony, as one. As her mother frets over an upcoming party, Elizabeth escapes to his shop. She's shocked the next day when her father informs her that Mr. Anthony has been found stabbed to death outside his shop, and an Italian American music teacher is about to be arrested for the murder. Elizabeth may be naive, but it doesn't take long for her to realize that members of the Walosas, the local women's chapter of the Ku Klux Klan, are lying about the suspect. Outraged, she recruits support (including Ernest Hemingway's mother) in her quest for justice. VERDICT The Agatha Award-winning author of the "Dorothy Martin" mysteries kicks off a historical series featuring a young woman who discovers her strength. Fans who want a slow-paced, old-fashioned story will find Dams's latest appealing.--Lesa Holstine

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