ALL THAT SMOLDERS

Sulzer’s novel follows journalist Peter Christie, the (fictional) great-grandnephew of acclaimed author Agatha, as he investigates a murder on a New England isle.

Peter recounts events following a murder on a small, unnamed Massachusetts island—“a crime that involved massive wealth and the destruction of a family.” On the lawn of wealthy Quentin Douglas’ property, local Betsy Cranmore finds a dead man dressed up in baggy pants and a Red Sox cap, like Douglas often wears; it turns out to be Chester Danville, a lawyer and deacon at a local church. Peter, a local journalist for the Island Forum weekly newspaper, heads to the scene, determined to figure out what happened. Throughout the novel, Peter interacts with various locals, including the large Douglas family, law enforcement officials, newspaper staff, and players from local baseball teams. As he tries to suss out suspects and motives for the killing, he dodges bullets, nearly drowns, and narrowly avoids what appears to be arson. Along the way, he makes time for lifelong hobbies and new island activities. Overall, this is a story of deception and illusion that takes a literary turn early on when the protagonist tries to find the source of a quote found on a piece of paper in the victim’s pocket, which begins: “All that smolders isn’t seen / It often lurks betwixt, between.” Along the way, Peter struggles greatly with memories of past experiences, which he compares to those of his illustrious relative. The narrative effectively sets up a struggle between the concepts of legal and personal justice, culminating in a satisfying ending. As in most mysteries, there’s a wide variety of suspects; many characters are deeply flawed—often classist, suspicious, and egotistical. Although the novel is not a police procedural, it shares many characteristics of the subgenre, thanks to newspaperman Peters’ investigative instincts, but its violence isn’t especially graphic. It’s a highly recommended addition to public libraries, whose patrons will particularly enjoy the tale’s nods to Dame Agatha.

A suspenseful literary whodunit with appealing depth.