Turkey Trot Murder

The Turkey Trot Murder takes place in Tinker's Cove, Maine where the our protagonist, Lucy Stone lives. Lucy expects that the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday will be uneventful. However, while training for the annual turkey trot 5K Lucy sees a dead body frozen in Blueberry Pond. Alison Franklin, daughter of the wealthy Ed Franklin, struggled with opioid addiction after an injury a year prior. The police blame her death on an accidental overdose but Lucy, a reporter for the local paper, disagrees. Alison had it all, wealth, looks and education. While covering the funeral for the paper, Lucy is puzzled to see Ed Franklin bring his new, young and pregnant wife Mireille with him. Alison's mother, Eudora Clare, arrives at the funeral with her new husband covered in black gauze to outshine Mireille. As the residents of Tinker's Cove become uneasy over the third drug death in a year, Lucy investigates Alison's death for her paper. Soon, a new family moves into town to reopen a restaurant. The Rodriguezes are Hispanic and are opposed by the community who blames Mexicans for the drug epidemic.  Ed Franklin is the most vocal of them. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the book but readers who are tired of hearing about the national divide over immigration will want to skip it. The author takes a Democratic point of view on immigration. There is much more to the story though. The mystery over Alison's death deepens when another resident is killed. We also have several opposing parties in the story.  Mireille versus Eudora, Ed versus Rey Rodgriguez and Lucy's daughter Zoe versus Matt Rodriguez. You don't know which of them will prevail. Turkey Trot Murder is the 24th Lucy Stone Mystery but I have only read 2 of them previously.  I thought that these cozies were too traditional for my taste but Turkey Trot has an intricate plot with tight writing.   I highly recommend it.

5 out of 5 stars.