The quest for love and home becomes deadly when Detectives Erik Jansson and Deb Metzger search for the killer of an adulterous real estate agent.
A volatile real estate market, unrest in a homeless encampment, jealousies among would-be lovers, a case of arson—these circumstances thwart G-Met detectives Erik Jansson and Deb Metzger as they investigate the murder of an adulterous woman. The victim’s estranged husband has holes in his alibi. A property developer grieves too much over the death of the woman while his wife shuts him out. The developer’s assistant resents his boss and suspects that the developer was not only involved with the victim but is being scammed by the arsonist. A sexy young widow, friend of the victim, has past traumas triggered by the case and turns to the developer for protection. A homeless man stalked the dead woman and now stalks the young widow. All may hold secrets about the past burning of an apartment complex and the man who died there.
Before the clues come together, Erik Jansson is trapped in an abandoned house as Deb Metzger hunts for a sharpshooter at a remote construction site. The case will burn down around them unless they can scheme their way out of lethal surroundings.
Priscilla Paton writes mysteries set in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Priscilla grew up on a dairy farm in Maine. She received a B.A. from Bowdoin College, a Ph.D. in English Literature from Boston College, was a college professor and taught in Kansas, Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Minnesota. She has previously published a children’s book, Howard and the Sitter Surprise, and a book on Robert Frost and Andrew Wyeth, Abandoned New England. She married into the Midwest and lives with her husband in Northfield, Minnesota. When not writing, she participates in community advocacy and literacy programs, takes photos of birds, and contemplates (fictional) murder.
My Thoughts
When the House Burns by Priscilla Paton is the third book in the Twin Cities Mystery Series. Featuring G-Met detectives Erik Jansson and Deb Metzger. Erik is recently divorced with a son and Deb is still looking for her significant other of the female persuasion. Neither is having success in their love lives. Deb is currently without a permanent home but is offered a basement apartment by her boss. It works on a temporary basis.
When a woman real estate agent, Jean Nerstrand is found dead in the driveway of a home for sale, it is up to the detectives to find the killer. Jean had worked for Lake & Isles Realty. The detectives find that this is not a straightforward murder.
There are a lot of characters in this novel, Dominick Novak, a real estate developer, Karma, who works for the same real estate company as Jean, Rafe of the crooked nose works for Dominick, Ulysses, a homeless man who definitely has a connection to the murder as do all of the characters I mentioned. Now it is up to Detectives Erik and Deb to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Not everyone is who you might think they are, everyone has their own story, some with secrets that they do not want to be exposed, thus making the case difficult to solve. Now throw in some dry wit into the storytelling and you have a story that is both compelling and hang on to your hat thrilling. Plus there is an element of romance throughout the story.
I have not read anything by this author and I think I need to remedy that and go read the first two books in the series. I love a good mystery and this one is one that I did enjoy. I think that the wit and quirkiness of the characters are what kept my attention. This book takes place in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, of which I have been numerous times and recognized some of the areas that were mentioned, including areas in Wisconsin, where I live.
I give the book 5 stars!
I received a copy of the book for review purposes only.
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