THE GIRL IN THE BOSTON BOX

A debut mystery set in Boston alternates between two stories that eventually intersect.

Through third-person narration, Latovich introduces Caitlyn Gautry, a doctoral candidate in Harvard’s Art & Architectural History Department. It is March 2016. Caitlyn is searching for a topic for her dissertation when she hears about something called the Boston Box. Generally considered to be an urban myth, the Box is described as a small secret room constructed in homes built in the mid-19th century, perhaps as a hiding place for runaway slaves or for more diabolical uses. Caitlyn, fascinated by the concept, begins researching the architects who may have designed these spaces. In the novel’s second chapter, 47-year-old Mark Chieswicz takes over to narrate his own tale. It is April 2017, and Mark receives a phone call from Boston police detective Jake Taylor informing him that officers have found the body of his estranged brother, Dave, who was apparently dumped in a vacant lot after being stabbed to death. Mark and Dave had not seen each other nor spoken in 25 years. But as Mark is Dave’s only known surviving relative, he is about to be the recipient of a substantial estate—unless he is killed by one of his brother’s low-life acquaintances. Readers would be well advised to pay close attention to the timelines of each of the stories. The complicated narrative toggles between the two protagonists, but Caitlyn’s tale runs from March 2016 through May 2017 while Mark’s escapades all take place during April and May 2017. Caitlyn’s indefatigable research and personal dramas are engaging, but Mark is the more intriguing of the two characters. Coping with the recent breakup with his boyfriend and barely holding on financially, he faces a moral dilemma. His current job as a driver of one of the city’s famous “Ducks,” amphibious vehicles that tour the city by both street and river, adds a humorous touch to the narrative’s detailed excursion through Boston. Enough knockdown action keeps things moving at a good clip until the effective ending.

A fun adventure with a satisfyingly dramatic conclusion.