Bloodstains with Brontë: A Crime with the Classics Mystery

In Hyde’s lackluster second Crime with the Classics mystery (after 2016’s Arsenic with Austen), former literature professor Emily Cavanaugh hosts a murder mystery event at Windy Corner, the mansion she inherited from her great-aunt in Stony Beach, Ore. The game turns deadly when one of the actors, a local youth with a bad reputation, is stabbed to death. Katie Parker, Emily’s beloved housekeeper, has a powerful motive, and the ensuing investigation jeopardizes Emily’s newly rekindled romance with sheriff Luke Richards. Emily identifies her own suspect, a construction worker obsessed with Katie and reminiscent of Wuthering Heights’ Heathcliff. Meanwhile, Luke enlists Emily’s aid in solving the crime, despite her civilian status and lack of objectivity. Implausible plot lines and one-dimensional characters may put off some readers, but those who appreciate literary allusions and quaint settings might enjoy a visit to Stony Beach. Emily’s Eastern Orthodox faith and Christian themes figure prominently throughout, adding crossover appeal for the evangelical market. Agent: Kimberly Cameron, Kimberly Cameron & Associates. (Dec.)