In Taylor's engrossing second mystery to feature art history professor Sweeney St. George (after 2003's O' Artful Death
), one of her students, Brad Putnam, is found dead wearing an odd assortment of mourning jewelry. Called in by Detective Timothy Quinn to help identify the artifacts, Sweeney dates them to the Civil War era and is later fascinated to find irregularities in the birth and death dates of one of Putnam's long dead relatives. Since Brad was the scion of one of Boston's wealthiest and most powerful families, Quinn and the Cambridge, Mass., police department must tread lightly as the family closes ranks—just as it did five years earlier when Brad's youngest brother was killed in a car crash. After two hit-and-run incidents come on the heels of Brad's untimely demise, Sweeney and Quinn are convinced the deaths are linked but have no evidence to support their beliefs. Both become immersed in an increasing web of lies, love triangles, politics and money. Sweeney's researches into the cultural mores of death provide an unusual backdrop, while Tim Quinn is deeply affecting as a young father trying to juggle his work and home lives. More skillfully plotted than O' Artful Death
, this moody, atmospheric novel will appeal to fans of darker cozies. Agent, Lynn Whittaker. (July 9)
