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Killing Cousins by Gene Stratton
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ISBN 0-916489-38-8 (Hard Cover)
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"Prime example of the . . . ever-so-civilized mystery." - Kirkus Reviews
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Almost all the residents are related to each other on Fogge Island, a quiet island off the New England coast. Then someone starts killing a number of people. Lt. Bumpus of the mainland police, which has jurisdiction, doesn't like women police officers and reluctantly puts Sgt. Priscilla Booth in charge of the case, hoping that she'll make a mess of it.
Priscilla, an amateur genealogist, quickly senses that there might be a genealogical angle. She gets permission to hire Mort Sinclair, Ph.D., a well-known genealogist and criminologist whom she knows by reputation. After all, he's an expert on dead relatives. Together they investigate an arrogant state senator, a know-it-all gossipy librarian, a doctor with a secret, a lawyer whose wife lives in fear for some unknown reason, the quiet widow of a conscienceless beach bum, a hotel owner in love with Priscilla, a tavern owner named Delano Delano, and others.
Mort and Priscilla learn they have the same interests, and she starts to fall in love with him, but he is very conscious of being almost 20 years older. An attempt made on Mort's life gives him the clue that leads to discovery of the murderer, but it seems too late to prevent another killing of a young girl. Killing Cousins proffers a fast-moving romp through personal lives and shrouded pasts as Mort and Priscilla prove that murder is a relative thing.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
| "I read 'Killing Cousins' with enjoyment and with a degree of compulsion which is, for me, unusual. You write English with a practiced fluency and you tell your tale well . . . the book deserves a wide public." - Colin Dexter, Gold and Diamond Dagger Awards winner - Author of the Inspector Morse mysteries |
| "Genealogy, genetics and keen detective work mesh effectively . . . [Mort] Sinclair works closely with Sergeant Priscilla Booth, a witty, bright and capable officer who proves to be a relentless though diplomatic interrogator. Their quietly romantic relationship lends strength and continuity. - Publishers Weekly |
| "Sweet, in its cozy old fashioned way . . . quietly charming venue . . . a prime example of the bygone, ever-so-civilized mystery." - Kirkus Reviews |
| "Thoroughly entertaining, especially in its depiction of a closed New England society . . . a smoothly told tale." - Douglas Greene, Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, VA |
| "For devout mystery fans the unusual detective will be appealingly different from the norm . . . enjoyable and delight departure . . . the final connection that declares the murderer is an inventive one." - Santa Cruz Sentinel |
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"A plot that takes the reader on a fast chase . . . readers who like the old-fashioned mysteries with several murders, a well-hidden killer and detectives who use brain rather than brawn will love this one." - Abilene Reporter-News |
| "A murder mystery for classical mystery lovers whose investigative intuitions demand a challenge. Well written, with clues falling just often enough to keep up the intrigues, this is no run-of-the mill whodunit." - South Bend Tribune |
| "Loaded with characters, but the book is not hard to follow . . . since all the clues are provided you may be able to solve this superbly written book." - Washington Record-Herald |
| "Stratton's first Mort Sinclair novel is impressive and very satisfying.... I can't wait to see what kind of chilling mystery Mort Sinclair will tackle next." - Smyth County News |
| "Will hold the reader's attention long past bedtime . . . provides more than mere reading pleasure to the detective story [fan with] its subtle clues to motive and killer." - Angleton Times |
| "You have done an excellent job creating interesting characters and a baffling plot.... I hope that Priscilla and Mort will have further adventures together and that you won't tire of them too quickly. I'm sure that readers won't." - David L. Greene, Chairman of the English Department, Piedmont College, Georgia |
| "I couldn't put it down. When I finished it, I felt outwitted, but not cheated. It delivers on its promise." - Donna Valley Russell, C.G., Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists |