Murder on West Lake:
A South Shore Mystery
By I. M. Foster
Publication Date: 9th December 2024
Publisher: Inez M. Foster
Page Length: 438 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction / Historical Mystery
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 own 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 intent on assisting in the investigation, and his family 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?
Although not the first time the pair had been faced with a body, Doctor Daniel O’Halleran had hoped to keep Kathleen Brissedon away from any future investigations. A coroner’s assistant himself, he was no stranger to performing autopsies, or carefully stepping into crime scenes to attempt to determine the true causes of death, but that wasn’t something Kathleen was supposed to be making a habit of.
After a pleasant day out together, with Daniel formally, and publicly, courting Kathleen, the discovery of a body not far from the frozen lake, is cause enough for concern. The brutal cause of death, however, brings to the coroner’s table new worries to face – is a murderer once again on the loose in the small village? And will Daniel be able to keep Kathleen safe when she is so determined to help?
In Murder on West Lake: A South Shore Mystery, I. M. Foster once again proves how adept she is at capturing a reader’s attention and keeping them thoroughly engaged in a story until the very end.
After the discovery of Clyde Dunmore’s body, it is quickly evident that his wounds are not self-inflicted, and that his death happened at the hands of another person. In a small village, rumours spread like wildfire, and it does not take long for the word ‘murder’ to reach many households. To discover the truth quickly is a necessity to keep people feeling safe and secure, but Daniel finds the secrets held around the scene of the crime are not forthcoming, and the true intent is difficult to establish. When the killer strikes again, it quickly becomes a race against time to unveil the truth and reveal the murderer’s identity before the safety of those Daniel cares about is threatened.
Although Kathleen has proven herself useful in the past, Daniel is still reluctant to let her help in the investigation. However, Kathleen is not one to be told, and she refuses to simply sit by and wait for Daniel to attempt to solve the mystery himself when she can provide valuable assistance. The dynamic between Daniel and Kathleen in this novel is both intriguing and entertaining. As much as Daniel knows how beneficial Kathleen’s help in the case would be, there are social constructs he must consider. There are already enough people talking about how she hasn’t allowed proper mourning time for her father before beginning their courtship – if he were to simply allow her to help, how many people would talk about the impropriety of the situation? However, he is fully aware that if he refuses to have her accompany him, she will simply go at it alone, and to keep her close seems to be the only way for him to ease his mind that she is safe, and not tampering with evidence. At times, it becomes truly comical at how frustrated he grows with her, although he can never stay mad at her for long, as his feelings for her are as clear as day.
The investigation itself is one that Daniel finds incredibly difficult. The clues that are available don’t appear to correlate with each other, and he must attempt to rely on the accounts told by his suspects and their families to determine the truth – even though some of them might be lying to him. The run-up to Christmas is already a stressful time, and with such a threat, Daniel is determined to figure out the truth before more lives are lost. For Daniel and Kathleen, but also for the reader, it is impossible to determine the truth until I. M. Foster deems it a suitable time to reveal their identity. For almost every suspect, there are reasons why they could have a motive, but also reasons to believe their innocence. With Daniel running back and forth between different households, learning the intricacies of ties, both familial and social, the reader slowly gets to know the people of the village, and how they might be related to the case. Whether or not they are involved is another matter entirely, and it is all too easy to start pointing fingers without knowing the full story. With details revealed slowly, and Daniel attempts to fit in day-to-day life around his investigation, this novel will certainly keep your attention rapt as the suspense builds in the lead up to festive celebrations.
Although it can, at first, be difficult to keep up with the amount of characters, the reader joins Daniel in trying to keep track of everyone, and learns alongside him how they are all connected, and who’s story is who’s. This does put the reader firmly in the story alongside Daniel, as the reader does not learn something until he does, making them feel more like his partner than his observer.
To fully grasp the characters and their backgrounds alluded to in this novel, reading the first two books offers a cohesive narrative of Daniel and Kathleen’s developing relationship. This novel does, however, stand well by itself, and it is not necessary to read the previous two books to understand the events of this novel, or indeed to enjoy it. Of course, to read this book is to have Daniel and Kathleen capture your heart, and it is more than likely that you will want to go back and read the previous two novels after you have read this one.
Although this novel is primarily a murder mystery, with a thrilling story, and a romantic subplot, the world-building itself must be commended. Not only do the characters come across as incredibly real in the telling, but the world they live in is also authentic. To watch the discovery of different medical and investigatory practices that are commonplace in the modern world, and to see them begin to be put to use, is certainly interesting to read about. To be able to combine such an intricate story with a true and factual historical world is a gift that I. M. Foster has clearly put to good use in this novel.
Murder on West Lake: A South Shore Mystery by I. M. Foster is another truly engrossing novel in what is becoming an unforgettable series. With characters you cannot help but love, and an engaging and captivating investigation, this novel is certainly one to add to your list.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Ellie Yarde
Yarde Reviews & Book Promotion
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In Murder on West Lake
I. M. Foster
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, and the Historical Novel Society.
You can keep track of her upcoming releases and tidbits about her books on the following sites:
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Mary Anne xxx