Equal parts charming and disturbing as it highlights the troubles of its historical setting, Murder at West Lake is a delightful, cozy mystery read.
About the Book
A scream shattered the tranquil air, echoing off the ice-covered lake, and Daniel’s heart froze. He knew that voice all too well.
After a pleasant afternoon of ice skating on the frozen waters of West Lake, local librarian Kathleen Brissedon stumbles across a gruesome sight in the nearby gazebo. It only takes a moment for her beau, assistant coroner Doctor Daniel O’Halleran, to determine that the victim was murdered.
To protect Kathleen from the ghastly sight of the man’s slashed throat, Daniel insists she return home while he examines the body further. Though the immediate cause of death appears obvious, he fears the subsequent autopsy will uncover more questions than answers, and it’s clear that he has his work cut out for him if he’s going to find the person responsible.
Kathleen has no intention of remaining demurely at home, not when there’s a murder to solve. Slipping back to the scene, she conducts her investigation. Though her discoveries prove interesting, Daniel is too concerned about her safety to stifle his annoyance, especially after the killer makes a second attempt closer to home. But as the puzzle pieces begin to fall into place and Daniel starts closing in on the truth, the killer sets their sights on him.
With the danger increasing, Kathleen is intent on assisting in the investigation, and his family is descending on Patchogue to spend the Christmas holidays. Daniel has his hands full. Will he and Kathleen be able to put their heads together and discover who is behind the attacks, or will the killer continue to plague the tranquil South Shore village unhindered?
My Thoughts
I’m not a huge historical fiction fan, but if you add a mystery to a story, I’ll give most genres a try. And, as it turns out, historical mystery fiction is a fun one! I’ve read a few now, and I haven’t been disappointed by any that I can remember. The only big disappointment I found in this one is that I didn’t realize it was the third in a series before I started, so I’ll have to go back and read the first two! If you’re like me and prefer your books in order, then you’ll want to check out the first one, too.
The author did a great job wrapping up the mysteries presented in the book, so the only big mystery I was left with – because I didn’t read the first two in the series – was why this small-town assistant doctor is running around town playing detective. Everyone just acted like it was normal – even more so than they do in any of my normal cozy detective novels – so I was quite confused. At least in this one, he was a doctor and a coroner, so it made a little more sense. But I thought coroners examined bodies and clues in the autopsy room and maybe at the scene of the crime, but not all about town. But who knows what we all have wrong, thanks to all the various crime dramas that flood our television screens? So, even after some cursory research, I can’t really tell if the author has taken creative liberties or if this is a realistic historical scenario. Perhaps they’d like to weigh in? Either way, it makes for incredibly entertaining reading.
There are some problematic storylines around women, but it is quite literally an issue of the time that the author is tackling. I believe the women in this story are given a great deal of agency, and many are strong, independent, and intelligent. They’re working within the period they’re stuck without exhibiting any woeful “she was different” tendencies while still being strong, unique characters. The main character’s initial reluctance but eventual consideration of a woman as the murderer even showed a kind of character growth on his part, I think. His sister, lady friend, and mother all showed great women role models. But I like that there were still women around who fit into the more stereotypical models of the women of the time because, of course, there would be those women who are just trying to survive the times. And completely rewriting history doesn’t do anyone any favors, either. Showing both sides is important, in my opinion.
The author seems to have done a great deal of research to create a realistic historical context for this series. Or, at least, nothing jumped out at me as unrealistic or anachronistic. Brava on such excellent and compelling work! I can’t wait to read the first two books in this series, and whatever else the author cooks up for these colorful characters! I’m so grateful to the author and LBT for including me in this tour!
Who’s It For?
While this isn’t officially considered cozy by those who make such categorizations, it seems to fit the bill for my cozy, loving heart! An amateur detective working alongside – or sometimes racing against the clock alongside – a professional (or near professional, however you look at it)? Check! A delightful small town with a colorful cast of characters? Check! One or more usually chaste will-they, won’t-they romances? Check! A crime is definitely the point of the story, but it almost feels beside the point. Check! Perhaps this one should at least get a cozy crossover tag? Either way, if you love historical, turn-of-the-century 20th, NOT 21st, fiction and cozy-ish mysteries, you’ll love this one!
Content Warnings: Sexism, Violence, Death, Murder, Adult Situations, Adult Language, Outdated Beliefs
About the Author
I. M. Foster is the pen name author Inez Foster uses to write her South Shore Mystery series, set on Edwardian Long Island. Inez also writes historical romances under the pseudonym Andrea Matthews, and has so far published two series in that genre: the Thunder on the Moor series, a time-travel romance set on the 16th century Anglo-Scottish Borders, and the Cross of Ciaran series, which follows the adventures of a fifth century Celt who finds himself in love with a twentieth century archaeologist.
Inez is a historian and librarian, who love to read and write and search around for her roots, genealogically speaking. She has a BA in History and an MLS in Library Science and enjoys the research almost as much as she does writing the story. In fact, many of her ideas come to her while doing casual research or digging into her family history. Inez is a member of the Long Island Romance Writers, the Historical Novel Society, and Sisters in Crime.
Links
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-West-Lake-South-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0DQ2LKJF6/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Murder-West-Lake-South-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0DQ2LKJF6/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222449113-murder-on-west-lake
Author’s Website: https://imfostermysteries.com/
Published by Amorina Carlton. Award-winning American author, Amorina Carlton, is currently working on her first novel. You can find more about her published work and works in progress on the home page. She also serves as the PR/Marketing Lead for Ravens and Roses Publishing, and reviews books, mostly by other indie authors, here and on Bookstagram.