Westfarrow Island

At the start of this exciting crime novel from Barra (Astoria Nights), Big Anthony Tagliabue, who operates a freighter along the Maine coast, finds the body of his mate, Joshua White, in the boat’s cabin. Joshua was supposed to help Tony unload hay that Tony was delivering to his girlfriend, Agnes Ann Townsend Brunson, on Westfarrow Island. Agnes Ann owns Seaside Stables, where she boards several horses; one of them, Francine, is a valuable two-year-old thoroughbred filly being trained to run her first race. Francine was part of the divorce settlement from Agnes Ann’s ex, Jack Brunson, a lawyer with mob clientele. Unhappy to lose Francine, Jack now wants her back. In Tony’s search for Joshua’s killer, he puts himself, Agnes Ann, and possibly Francine in grave danger. Complicating his investigation is a dangerous undercover assignment he accepts from an agent with whom he occasionally works to rescue a defector from a Russian intelligence-gathering ship. The relentless action in the dual story lines keeps the reader engrossed. Barra offers it all: murder, smuggling, chase scenes, romance, and international intrigue. [em](Apr.) [/em]