Well-Offed in Vermont

September 26, 2011
At the start of this charming first in a new cozy series from Meade (Black Moonlight), New Yorkers Stella Buckley, a medieval tapestry specialist, and Nick, her forest ranger husband, are looking forward to moving into the 1890 farmhouse they’ve just purchased in Windsor County, Vermont. But when local businessman Allen Weston turns up dead in their water tank, they’re locked out of their new home. Since they hope to move in before the winter, the couple involve themselves in the search for the killer. As the suspects—including an eccentric neighbor, a kindly sheriff, and their own realtor—pile up, Stella and Nick learn that nearly everyone wanted Weston dead—and that their investigation may be putting others in danger. Likable leads and unexpected twists help make up for the occasional clunky phrase or over-explained snippet of exposition.

October 15, 2011
A Manhattan couple find moving into their recently purchased Vermont home just a tad more complicated than they expected. Stella and Nick Buckley are making big changes in their lives to accommodate Nick's dream of following a career with the Forest Service. Arriving at their circa-1890 farmhouse with all their possessions, they plan on a romantic night before they get down to the business of moving in. But things go differently. First they are disturbed by a neighbor bearing cupcakes, then by the discovery of a body in their well. The dead man is Allen Weston, whose contract to fix the well didn't include any such hands-on services. Weston had the reputation of being a sharp businessman who boasted many enemies. Local sheriff Charlie Mills forces Nick and Stella to leave the premises, since they're now a crime scene. But an old friend of his, local bakery owner Alma Deville, who knows that the whole area is overrun with leaf peepers who have booked every available room, offers them the use of a sparsely furnished hunting camp. Stella, acutely aware of her disadvantaged status as a flatlander and newcomer, is convinced that solving the case will be the quickest way to get them into their new home. A second murder adds urgency to their sleuthing. The first in a new series for Meade (Black Moonlight, 2010, etc.) features yet another set of bright young detectives along with some unlikely scenarios.

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November 1, 2011

Imagine that you have just moved into your dream home in a bucolic Vermont village, only to find a dead guy in your well--make that a murdered guy. Young professionals Stella and Nick thought moving from Manhattan would be a slice of paradise, but now they are locked out of their home and forced to figure out what possible motive led to this local businessman's demise. The couple makes it their business to solve the crime, and their intrepid spirit catches the locals by surprise, including the somewhat hapless sheriff. VERDICT Meade successfully segues from her historicals (Black Moonlight) to this snappy yet traditional contemporary. She brings us pitch-perfect dialog, original characters, and enormous potential for a fun series. Buy now and get in on the ground floor!

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.