Strangers at the Gate

From Agatha-winner McPherson (Go to My Grave) comes this atmospheric standalone set in Scotland, where Edinburgh attorney Paddy Lamb gets his dream job: a partnership in a small law firm in the quaint town of Simmmerton, along with the free use of a lodge owned by his new employer, Lovatt Dudgeon. Paddy’s wife, Finn, is even offered a plum job as a deacon in the local church. The dream rapidly sours as the city-bred Finn begins to hear voices and see lights moving through the dense woods surrounding their secluded new home. A full-fledged nightmare unfolds when Paddy and Finn stumble across the bloody bodies of Lovatt and his wife. With secrets of their own to hide, Paddy and Finn are in no position to alert the authorities; now they can only wait for someone else to discover the bodies. As the days creep by and the mysteries around her deepen, Finn comes to suspect the killer is someone close to her. McPherson spins a tense tale of murder and deception. Fans of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca will find much to like. Agent: Lisa Moylett, CMM Literary (U.K.). (Oct.)

This review has been updated to remove a spoiler.