In Shaber's fourth intriguing Simon Shaw whodunit (after 2003's The Fugitive King
), the mild-mannered professor at Kenan College in Raleigh, N.C., has earned a reputation as a "forensic historian," that is, an expert in solving long-ago crimes. When a friend's goddaughter, Helen Williams, tells him that she may be the reincarnation of a woman who murdered her child a century earlier, Simon is ready to dismiss Helen's claim as nonsense. A cursory inquiry reveals nothing, and he thinks he's off the hook. After a curious incident changes his mind, Simon becomes engrossed in a methodical and thorough investigation that not only will put him and Helen in danger but also will heat up a cold case to the boiling point. The reincarnation debate between believers and skeptics, epitomized in epigraphs that head each chapter, adds to the suspense. Credible characters, smooth and natural dialogue, charming descriptions of Raleigh at Christmastime and a creative solution to the mystery all lift this well above the cozy average. Agent, Vicky Bijur. (May 12)
