See Also Deception: A Marjorie Trumaine Mystery

In Sweazy’s strong second Marjorie Trumaine mystery, set in 1964 in Dickinson, N.Dak., a few months after the events of 2015’s See Also Murder, the book indexer has a lot on her plate. Since her husband, Hank, was blinded and paralyzed in a hunting accident, Marjorie has watched their prairie farm slip into failure. Fortunately, her freelance work for a New York publisher brings in just enough outside income to let them hold on. Marjorie counts on professional assistance from the local librarian, Calla Eltmore, until she gets the devastating news that Calla has committed suicide. Sure that Calla would never kill herself, Marjorie investigates and soon discovers that a clever murderer is operating under the town’s placid facade. Marjorie must use the skills she’s developed as an indexer to see and organize seemingly unrelated ideas, just as she must summon the nerve to act, despite repressive social inhibitions, in this satisfying sequel. Agent: Cherry Weiner, Cherry Weiner Literary Agency. (May)