SANCTUARY HILL by Kathryn R Wall
Mystery writer Kathryn R Wall has outdone herself with her latest book SANCTUARY HILL. Wall is the author of the "Bay Tanner" series of books and this is her seventh one. With each story she has progressively gotten better and now she reaches the penultimate adventure for Bay. In this book the characters are richer, the plot more inventive, and the climax more acceptable than in any of her other stories. Of course nothing is perfect and there is a plot twist at the end that didn't sit well with me.
The story gets off to a rousing start when Bay Tanner, an investigator living in Beaufort, South Carolina, discovers a Styrofoam cooler floating in the water near her father's home. She fishes it out and opens it to discover an infant's body inside. There is a strange amulet around the child's neck and her father's housekeeper Lavinia appears to know something about what it is and what it means.
Bay's brother in law Red Tanner is the officer in charge of the investigation. He quickly tells Bay to stay away from the investigation but Bay being Bay can not and will not let it rest. She feels she is the only one who can get Lavinia to break her silence.
Meanwhile Bay has also been hired to investigate the disappearance of a young woman. Her husband says she disappeared with a large amount of money and he fears foul play. Bay, her partner Ben Wyler, and their assistant Erik join forces to try to solve the mystery of this woman's disappearance.
There is a lot of plot going on in this latest book but Wall keeps it perfectly contained. There are no loose strings left unresolved and each and every character in the storyline is fully described. Wall is totally in control of her story and her cast of characters.
This time out the reader comes away with a greater appreciation for who and what Bay Tanner is. You understand her compulsions and you appreciate her tenacity. She is a flawed human being but also a very likeable one.
The only flaw in my opinion is Bay's choice of a new partner in her life. The one she selects does not appear to deserve her love. He would make a good friend and ally but not a life partner.
If you have never read a Kathy Wall novel, well this is a great place to jump in. And having read this one you will be impelled to go back and catch up on what went before. If you are already a Wall fan, then hurry up and get this one because it is Wall at her best.
Good mystery, good suspense, good plot resolution = a good way to spend a few hours with a marvelous writer.
SANCTUARY HILL is published by St Martin's Press. It contains 309 pages and sells for $23.95.