St. Patrick's Day Murder

The small town of Tinker’s Cove, Maine, is getting excited about the upcoming community production of “Finian’s Rainbow.” A professional director from Ireland is coming, and the whole town is getting into the act, literally — including reporter Lucy Stone, who has the sad duty of reporting on a particularly gruesome body that has washed up on the beach.

The deceased seems to be a reclusive barkeep whose pub has been a hangout for the local lobstermen for many years.

When the director arrives, he brings an odd collection of coincidences, troubling changes, and a family that isn’t quite what it seems. He turns out to be the brother of the dead man, with a lovely wife and daughter who have a little too much connection with the fairies. They intend to make the working men’s pub over into an upscale tourist attraction, and the local people aren’t sure that’s a good idea.

As the day of the performance draws near, things get more dramatic around town as well as in the musical. Disappearances, lies, and ancient secrets combine to create a creepy and atmospheric story.

At the same time, this is as cozy as the rest of the Lucy Stone series, and includes many of the characters fans of the series know and love.