Lament for Bonnie

Emery's ninth Collins-Burke mystery (following Ruined Abbey) takes place during a summer vacation to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Young Normie Collins and her family arrive two weeks after the disappearance of her step-dancing, fiddling 12-year-old cousin Bonnie. Narrated by Normie, her father, and the Mountie officer on the case, the book delves into the stories of Normie's relatives, the fame of her aunt and step-uncle's Celtic band, the hidden connections among families in town, and the fear gripping the extended family over the missing child. From her great-grandmother, Normie gets lessons in speaking Gaelic and tuning into her second sight, skills that will eventually become lifesavers. The investigation into Bonnie's whereabouts turns up little, and the family is shocked to the core when the missing girl's grandmother is accused of being involved. At that point, the real hidden skeletons in the family begin to emerge. The story is both an engaging mystery and an exploration of the unique and enduring culture built by Scottish settlers in Cape Breton. It contrasts the innocence of young Normie with some very adult situations that she handles with the strength and wisdom of her ancestors. This story is irresistible. (Sept.)