KILT DEAD

An injured dancer returns home only to become a murder suspect.

Liss MacCrimmon’s whole life has revolved around Scottish dancing. When a knee injury ends her career with Strathspey, the Scottish-American equivalent of Riverdance, she returns to the small Maine town of Moosetookalook to babysit her Aunt Margaret’s Scottish Emporium while she’s off in Scotland. Upon Margaret’s departure, Liss and shop assistant Sherri Willett head for the nearby Highland Games, where they have a booth selling Scottish items. A request for a certain kilt material from a boorish real-estate agent and his girlfriend sends Liss back to the shop’s storeroom, where she discovers the dead body of her neighbor, retired schoolteacher Mrs. Norris. Luckily, Dan Ruskin, another old school friend who’s swiftly developing a romantic interest in Liss, lives across the street. He takes her in and supports her when arrogant state cop Craig LaVerdiere seems bent on convicting her, especially once Liss is named heir to the Norris estate. When she realizes LaVerdiere isn’t even looking for another suspect, Liss starts to sleuth on her own. Renewing old friendships, she finds that the past was less peaceful than she thought and the present also holds several motives for murder. Liss puts her life on the line to discover the truth.

A nice little debut with enough local color and romance to make a congenial addition to the cozy ranks.