"Delightful regional amateur sleuth"

In the small Maryland town of Solace Glen, life looks good for Flip. Her cleaning business is doing so well that she needs to hire another person just to keep up with requests and she is engaged to marry the love of her life, the town lawyer Tom. All she wants is for her fiancée is to set a wedding date which he keeps postponing using the completion of their new house as an excuse.

Trouble arises for the town and Flip personally when the beautiful Stewart Lawton and her macro-millionaire father come to town. Stewart was being stalked in California by someone who left notes and handcuffs (as well as other things) in her home and car. Having spent time in Solace Glen, Stewart moves into Flip's house which she bought hoping to get away form the stress. However, the stalker follows her to the quaint town, calling her and leaving such gifts and even going so far as to killing one of the local residents. Flip starts investigating and almost loses her life when she discovers the identity of the killer.

This delightful regional amateur sleuth mystery will tantalize readers with its red herrings, false trails and unexpected twists. The audience will feel sympathy for Stewart who is being emotionally and mentally tortured by a madman. Flip just wants to find the stalker so the victim can leave town and life can return to normal. Susan S. James has that siren's spark of a good writer.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted March 14, 2005

Town housekeeper Flip Paxton returns in a charming new mystery.

Summary

When an impossibly beautiful blonde arrives in town—fleeing a stalker—Flip must clean up after the dangerous flow of violence that follows her.