cover image Windswept

Windswept

Patricia Ryan. Severn, $27.95 (192p) ISBN 978-0-7278-8357-5

The island paradise of Aruba, where Emily Harrington arrives on vacation from wintry Manhattan, stars in Ryan’s clunky romantic suspense novel. Emily is looking forward to being joined by her fiancé, Michael, currently detained in London, but it’s quickly obvious that do-gooder Emily is a poor match for him, an ambitious up-and-coming lawyer. On the island, much of the excitement comes from hard-drinking travel writer Roger Stirhew, who makes enemies faster than the staff can whip up signature cocktails. When Roger is killed, there’s no shortage of suspects, including his wife, resort owner Martin Maitland, society columnist Marietta St. John, and restaurateur Jon Peterson. Emily, who finds the body, may have glimpsed the killer and must therefore spend a lot of time with the relentless but charming Insp. Thomas Moller. Ryan (A Bucket of Ashes) relies heavily on her picturesque setting, making for a whodunit that’s longer on description than on suspense. (June)