Death in the Family

In the prologue of Wegert’s solid debut, former NYPD homicide detective Shana Merchant, who’s recovering from a traumatic incident, meets with therapist Carson Gates. Merchant was involved in a serial killer case in Manhattan in which three women were killed after dating a man they met online, Blake Bram, who happened to be from her hometown, Swanton, Vt. Flash forward 13 months. Merchant is now engaged to Gates and working for the New York State Park Police in a part of the state “where violent crime doesn’t exist. Until, one day, it does.” On an island in the St. Lawrence River, Jasper Sinclair, the scion of a prominent family that made its wealth in the fashion industry, and his girlfriend, Abella Beaudry, go to bed one night. The next morning, Beaudry wakes up to find Sinclair gone and the sheets soaked with blood. Merchant investigates as a big storm closes in. Wegert maintains suspense by gradually parceling out her lead’s backstory and how Bram ties in with the Sinclair case. Fans of golden age closed circle murder mysteries will enjoy this effective update. Agent: Marlene Stringer, Stringer Literary. (Feb.)