To Slip the Bonds of Earth

Flower (the Emily Dickinson mysteries) transforms Katharine Wright, sister of flight pioneers Orville and Wilbur, into an intrepid gumshoe in this splendid series launch. It’s 1903, and while Katharine’s brothers prepare for their inaugural flight in North Carolina, she keeps the home fires burning in Dayton, Ohio, by caring for their father, running the family bike shop, and working part-time as a teacher. After Orville and Wilbur return home, having flown their Wright Flyer for a historic 57 seconds, the three siblings attend a party hosted by the family of one of Katherine’s students. There, someone swipes Orville and Wilbur’s flying plans; when Katharine tracks down her chief suspect, she finds him stabbed to death with one of Orville’s screwdrivers. Orville immediately falls under suspicion for the grisly murder, and Katharine sets out to clear his name, betting on people to underestimate her intellect as she ferrets out the truth. As always, Flower’s thorough historical research enables her to bring contemporary readers into a bygone era, and she has the mechanics of a satisfying mystery down pat. After this stirring maiden voyage, readers will be eager to see where the series goes next. Agent: Nicole Rescinti, Seymour Agency. (Apr.)