cover image Three May Keep a Secret: An Endurance Mystery

Three May Keep a Secret: An Endurance Mystery

Susan Van Kirk. Five Star Publishing, $25.95 (244p) ISBN 978-1-4328-2968-1

Van Kirk’s appealing mystery debut, the first in a series set in Endurance, Ill., introduces recently retired teacher Grace Kimball. At Tully’s bar and restaurant, Jeff Maitlin, the dapper new editor of the Endurance Register, meets Grace to offer her a part-time job as a book columnist for the paper. That same evening at Tully’s, a belligerent Mike Sturgis threatens to sue reporter Brenda Norris for libel. Jeff asks Mike to calm down, and, after two patrolmen intervene, drives a drunken Brenda home. Late that night, Brenda dies in a suspicious fire; Grace subsequently decides to finish Brenda’s unfinished feature on the town’s upcoming 175th anniversary. After coming across a file about a cold case similar to Brenda’s, she begins to investigate Brenda’s death. Another murder in Endurance raises the stakes—and puts Grace in more danger than she realizes. Cozy fans will find a lot to like. [em](Nov.) [/em]