Limelight

Early in British author Hurley’s uneven fourth Enora Andressen mystery (after Off Script), London actor Enora impulsively accepts an invitation to visit a retired friend, renowned editor Evelyn Warlock, in a seaside town in Devon. Upon meeting Evelyn’s neighbors, Enora quickly befriends Christianne Beaucarne and her taciturn husband. Then Christianne vanishes when she goes for her daily swim. As the weeks unfold, and suspicions build, Enora and the town residents become engulfed in moral and legal quandaries surrounding Christianne’s devastating neurological disease, her disappearance, and the ensuing police investigation. Matters become even more complicated when a coffin is discovered in a field. Meanwhile, Enora’s feckless son, Malo, is working to create doomsday cruises for wealthy people who want to avoid end of life “unpleasantries.” While Hurley excels at creating intriguing characters like the flamboyant Enora, he falters when he strays into the moral quagmire of euthanasia. This one’s for series fans only. Agent: Oli Munson, A.M. Heath (U.K.). (Dec.)