EAT CROW AND DIE

An accountant with sleuthing experience works to prove her boyfriend innocent of murder.

P.J. Benson thinks she might be pregnant. The prospect brings her no joy, since her mother became schizophrenic while pregnant with P.J. When Ginny Kingsley, the sister of her boyfriend, Sheriff’s Detective Wade Kingsley, calls with the news that Wade’s boat has just blown up on Lake Michigan, P.J. rushes to the hospital. Wade has a concussion and his son, Jason, no more than a few scratches. But Wade’s ex-wife, Linda, and her second husband, Michael Brewster, are missing, presumed dead, and the police consider Wade a very likely suspect. Right from the start there are suspicious circumstances. The explosion turns out to have been caused by a bomb. The police wonder why Wade and Jason just happened to be up front dropping anchor at the time of the explosion. Linda’s parents insist early and often that Wade is guilty. A man shows up at the hospital claiming Michael owes him money. When Linda and Michael’s home is broken into and trashed, P.J. gets to hear the threatening message someone has left on the answering machine. Linda’s parents think Wade left the message and stole a valuable emerald necklace to boot. Fighting morning sickness and her fears for the future, P.J has no plans to end her pregnancy even though a distracted Wade seems no happier about it than she is. As the evidence piles up against Wade, P.J., refusing to give up, unearths a number of other suspects. Now she just needs to convince the police.

P.J.’s third (As the Crow Flies, 2011, etc.) provides plenty of suspects and motives while delving deeper into a fraught romantic relationship.