Turkey Trot Murder: A Lucy Stone Mystery

Lucy Stone is dismayed to discover illegal drugs have established a foothold in bucolic Tinker’s Creek, Maine, in Meier’s timely 26th mystery featuring the part-time reporter and full-time snoop (after 2016’s British Manor Mystery). When pretty college-age Alison Franklin takes a fatal plunge into any icy pond, everyone in town assumes it was suicide related to drug use (but the reader knows otherwise from the prologue). The victim’s father, billionaire real estate developer Ed Franklin, blames “Mexicans.” Meanwhile, TV chef Rey Rodriguez aims to open an upscale restaurant in time for Thanksgiving. At the town hall meeting where Rey describes his plans, a woman in the audience expresses concern about the influx of drugs from Mexico and Rey’s being Mexican (he’s in fact American). Complications ensue when Rey’s handsome 30-year-old son heaps attention on Lucy’s teen daughter, Zoe. Meier’s focus on racism gives this cozy a serious edge rare for this subgenre. [em]Agent: Meg Ruley, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Oct.) [/em]