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Set in a haunting and seemingly idyllic little village, this is a tale of revenge, murder, and love gone sour. It is also a story of faith, devotion, and loyalty. Joan Spencer has married her police detective love, Fred Lundquist, and the two of them and Joan’s son Andrew seem to be settling in just fine. Then Fred gets a call from his sister asking him to come home for several weeks so she and her husband can take a vacation. Their mother is developing Alzheimer’s and must be watched carefully. Home is Bishop Hill, a tiny community in Illinois (and an actual community) originally settled by a group of Swedes who created a religious commune. The commune did not last much longer than the murder of the founder, but the town still carries out traditions and legacies of the original settlers. Christmas is coming soon and all the wonderful events of the holidays and of the Santa Lucia festival are occurring in the town. But Fred’s mother wanders into the woods behind her home and disappears. When Fred and Joan find her, she insists that Fred has been murdered. After they get her home, they investigate and find the body of a man who resembles Fred but whose face was beaten to a bloody pulp. Obviously his mother has seen the murderer and they are afraid she is at risk until they determine who did the terrible deed. The characters are well-rounded, authentic, and completely empathetic. The reader will identify with all of them including Helga, in the first stages of Alzheimer’s, forgetful and unsure at one moment, taking charge and remembering everything at the next. It is a very sympathetic group of people whom Joan and Fred meet in Bishop Hill. They love their little village and they enjoy telling about it and entertaining the visitors who come for the festival. The story is well plotted. All the clues are there for the reader to identify the murderer but I was misled by all the red herrings as the author meant for me to be and the denouement came as a perfect surprise to me. Thinking back, however, it should have been clear. The weather plays a role in the story. It is winter and quite cold. Snow has covered the ground and drifts down from time to time during the course of the story. I can clearly see the village, candles glowing in the windows ot the homes and luminaries lining the sidewalks. Cheeks and the tips of ears are rosy and the colors of the landscape are soft yellows and whites and browns. It is a fantasy land, a village that evil should not touch and yet it does. This is a delightful and charming story told very well and enticing to the reader. It is especially suited to the holiday season.
Reviewed by Sally A. Fellows, November 2002
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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