β[A] sly mysteryβ featuring friends Maggie Detweiler and Hope Babbin from the New York Timesβbestselling author of More Than You Know (Jacquelyn Mitchard).
Indulging their pleasure in travel and new experiences, recently retired private school head Maggie Detweiler and her old friend, socialite Hope Babbin, are heading to Maine. The tripβto attend a weeklong master cooking class at the picturesque Victorian-era Oquossoc Mountain Innβis an experiment to test their compatibility for future expeditions.
Hope and Maggie have barely finished their first aperitifs when the innβs tranquility is shattered by the arrival of Alexander Antippas, his wife, and her actress sister. Imperious and rude, these Hollywood one-percenters quickly turn the inn upside-down with their demanding behavior, igniting a flurry of speculation and gossip among staff and guests alike.
But the disruption soon turns deadly. After a suspicious late-night fire is brought under control, Alexβs charred body is found in the ashes. Enter the townβs deputy sheriff, Buster Babbin, Hopeβs long-estranged son and Maggieβs former student. A man whoβs finally found his footing in life, Buster needs a win. But heβs quickly pushed aside by the βbig boys,β senior law enforcement and high-powered stateβs attorneys who swoop in to make a quick arrest.
Feeling that justice could use a helping handβas could the deputy sheriffβMaggie and Hope decide that two women of experience equipped with healthy curiosity, plenty of common sense, and a cheerfully cynical sense of humor have a useful role to play in uncovering the truth.
βThe masterfully woven tale brings a lot of humor, wit, and suspense to every page.β βSan Francisco Book Review