Widow’s Wreath: A Martha’s Vineyard Mystery

At the outset of Riggs’s uneven 14th Martha’s Vineyard mystery (after 2017’s Trumpet of Death), 92-year-old Victoria Trumbull, a deputy in the West Tisbury police force, is preparing to host the wedding reception of her 25-year-old cousin, Penny Arbuthnot, when an electrician working in her house finds a body hanging from a beam in the cellar. Much of the plot revolves around discovering the identity of the deceased and resolving complicated relationships among the family of Penny’s fiancé, Rocco Buffano, who has a debt problem and knows someone wants to kill him. Forthright and down-to-earth Victoria, who exemplifies Yankee can-do practicality, steals the show. Evocative descriptions of the island’s natural beauty and quaint towns make up in part for the underdeveloped supporting characters. Even Penny—impulsive, ditzy, and living a fantasy whose Mr. Right is very obviously all wrong—lacks depth and distinction, despite being a near-perfect foil for Victoria. This entry is strictly for series fans. Agent: Paula Munier, Talcott Notch Literary Agency. (June)