THE KILLDEER’S CALL

A politician’s mysterious death draws an amateur sleuth into a tangled mystery in this third installment of Shapiro’s cozy mystery series.

Shortly after cutting the ribbon at a new Japanese Memorial Garden on Wynter Island, British Columbia, politician Bill Nakamura is found dead. (“One outstretched arm pointed toward the door, towards us, as if reaching for help that never came.”) Though local journalist Kate Zöe Thomas has a history of getting involved in mysteries on the island, she vows to stay on the sidelines this time around. Her resolve quickly crumbles as evidence mounts, suspects emerge, and tensions surrounding anti-Asian vandalism and a local white supremacist group threaten to engulf the island. Alongside her loyal dog, Jupiter, Kate finds herself pulled into an investigation that stretches far beyond a seemingly straightforward murder and into decades-old secrets rooted in the island’s wartime history. The novel possesses all the ingredients of a classic whodunit—experienced mystery readers may correctly anticipate aspects of the final reveal before the characters do—but the author executes the twist with sufficient confidence and emotional resonance to ensure its impact. The climax delivers genuine tension, and the epilogue provides satisfying closure for both the mystery and the series’ ongoing character arcs. The island itself functions as a richly realized character, populated by an interconnected cast of residents whose relationships, loyalties, and histories provide a significant portion of the narrative’s emotional weight. Kate is an appealing protagonist: curious, compassionate, and incapable of resisting a puzzle, even when common sense tells her to walk away. Her evolving relationships with dependable veterinarian Ben and longtime crush Michael add a welcome personal dimension; the romantic subplot is handled with a gentle touch, ultimately serving as a story about healing and self-discovery. Some of the discussions of racism, Japanese Canadian internment, and generational trauma can feel overly explanatory, occasionally sacrificing subtlety. Even so, the author’s sincerity is evident, and the historical material ultimately enriches the novel’s exploration of memory, justice, and the dangers of allowing old wounds to fester in families and in communities.

A heartfelt mystery that provides a satisfying puzzle, a historical reckoning, and an engaging hero.