SELENA

By the time retired archeologist and longtime Bostonian 72- year-old Colin Edwards concludes a visit to his native St. Christopher's, a Florida coastal town, there will be four funerals and a murdering loony in the clink. When Colin visits his kin, including best friend Cousin Charles and Charles's twin sister Selena (an old flame still emitting a spark or two), Colin hears about the nighttime sniper, and also realizes that he is being pressured heavily by Charles to supervise a dig in an old Indian mound on a family-owned island, where Selena's ex-husband and some unsavory chums seem to have business. The island, soon to be sold by the family (someone seems determined to pick off the shareholders), holds some grisly secrets. Between murders, academic shoptalk with peers, family gossip, and some memorable meals, Colin has an amorous reunion. A fine debut—all unhurried, forthright, companionable, and buttoned down.