The Curious Cape Cod Skull

In this cozy series launch, Lee leisurely treads a fine line with uneven success, imparting archeological lore on one hand and orchestrating a murder investigation on the other. Cape Cod resident and retired science teacher Marguerite Smith discovers a body in her storage shed on the same day that her nephew-in-law, Jeb, and his two young sons arrive from Boston for a visit. The deceased is identified as archeology professor Peter Dafoe, who was working at a dig on the island. Police chief Nadeau and one of his detectives learn that an important notebook is missing at the dig. Nadeau asks Marguerite to gather background on the dig's biggest find, a valuable skull possibly of Viking origin; in the process, she sees disturbing links among Jeb, the skull, the dig and the murder. Lee strains to make a compelling modern-day mystery out of this material; readers interested in the controversy over America's first European visitors and the politics inherent in archeological excavations will most likely overlook minor inconsistencies in the murder puzzle. (June)