Series debut
An Amateur Sleuth’s Guide to Murder sounds like an instructional booklet, but is actually the most recent of Lynn Cahoon’s novels. Meg Gates is our protagonist, and readers join her at the lowest point of her life. Her fiancé has just left her, right before their wedding, to take their honeymoon trip with one of her bridesmaids. Understandably, Meg is determined to get out of what was their shared Seattle apartment, and onto rebuilding her life before the happy couple returns. Luckily, she has plenty of friends and family living nearby on the island of Bainbridge ready to help her do just that. Her aunt even has an apartment to rent her at the friends and family rate to help her get back on her feet. Meg is grateful to not having to face restarting her life alone, even if she does also feel like she ‘failed’ spectacularly at life up to this point. But when you reach the bottom, there is nowhere to go but up. Or so she hopes.
While giving herself time to grieve the lost relationship, Meg is also being proactive about moving on. This includes finding two part-time jobs on the island, one in her Mother’s bookstore and the other as a researcher for famous mystery author Lilly Aster. While a little unsure about working for Ms. Aster at first, Meg finds her inspirational and endearing. The work becomes fun and easy to do, and Meg even begins to think of a book she might like to write herself, which also happens share the title of her own story. Just as it feels like she is reaching some form of normalcy on the island, though, Ms. Aster’s manager is found dead just off the author’s property. As Meg’s uncle is the police chief, she’s able to learn early on that her employer is a major suspect. Determined to clear her name, as well as do some field work for her own book idea, Meg pulls together an investigative team with two of her friends. Turns out amateur sleuthing is a little more difficult than anticipated when also having to juggle two part time jobs. Especially when there is no end to suspects because the victim happened to be a spectacularly nasty person who everyone on the island seems to have bad history with.
Those who have read Lynn Cahoon’s other work with no doubt love An Amateur Sleuth’s Guide to Murder. Meg is a compelling protagonist that takes charge of her own life, and has an admirable level head on her shoulders – well, after letting herself let loose at least once about the betrayal of her ex. Even with all the setbacks and challenges she is facing, Meg isn’t about to let anyone tell her what’s best for her, even if that happens to be her uncle telling her to keep her nose out of his investigation or her mother telling her to get back in the dating game. Given where An Amateur Sleuth’s Guide to Murder leaves off, I look forward to seeing where life takes Meg Gates next. Also, if she ever gets her own An Amateur Sleuth’s Guide to Murder written and published.
— Carla Schantz