Book Review: Shaded Light

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Shaded Light     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
N. J. Lindquist
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Cozy   Police Procedural
Series: Paul Manziuk and Jacquie Ryan
St. Kitt, Dec 1999, $24.95, 337 pp.

In July in Toronto, Ellen Brodie plans a small garden party. Her husband George (a senior partner in a law firm) invites his two partners and their wives to attend. Additionally, Ellen's son Kendall (a new lawyer in the same firm) arrives with his roommate. Finally, George's odious nephew Bart and a neighbor Hildy Reimer crash the event. The out of control party spins further into the abyss when someone murders one of the guests.

Police Detectives Paul Manziak and his new partner Jacqueline Ryan arrive to investigate the strangling death of Jillian Martin. The two cops quickly learn that several attendees had motives to kill Jillian, who was blackmailing some of them. The case takes a nastier turn when a second corpse is found just outside the estate. As they try to work as a team on the double murder case, Paul and Jacqueline also search for a serial killer with a MO similar to the Martin slaying except for the hair color of Jillian.

N.J. Lindquist writes an entertaining Canadian cozy that that will please police procedural fans. The motives of the partygoers are fully developed as the audience sees first hand their animosities and desires even before the first corpse is discovered. Paul and Jillian make a fabulous team as their divergent personalities harmoniously clash to the benefit of the reader. The who-done-it is well designed with a wonderful investigation to add to the pleasure. Pressure will be placed on Ms. Lindquist to provide more Manziak and Ryan investigations.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner