MADreads

Stranded in Syracuse

September 1st, 2007 Lesley - Central

Madeline Dare, a former Long island socialite, finds herself in Syracuse married to a railroad worker whose travels take him away from home in the debut mystery A Field of Darkness by Cornelia Read.

Madeline writes lightweight features for the local newspaper when she learns about the bizarre 20-year old murder of two young women dubbed the “Rose Girls” after the thorny crowns encircling their heads.  As Madeline begins to investigate the cold case, she discovers that her preppy cousin, Lapthorne Townsend, is one of the suspects since his army dog tags were found at the murder scene.

Madeline retraces the girls’ final hours spent in the company of two soldiers at the New York State Fair in an attempt to clear her cousin’s name.  Instead she finds dark family secrets that will challenge her own beliefs.  Along the way she also encounters several colorful characters as well as another murder.

This book’s witty dialogue and feisty heroine make A Field of Darkness  a fun read.  I hope this mystery is just the beginning of a long writing career.

Entry Filed under: Mystery