“A lively mystery rich with atmosphere, a vivid cast of suspects, and some delicious twists. Enjoy!”

—Meg Gardiner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Shadowheart

“Opper’s debut mystery sweeps us beneath an outwardly-placid New England village into the dark family dealings behind the murder of prominent heir. Opper deftly cultivates an intricate web of suspects and motives.  And the prying eyes of—Texans?—are upon them. Unlikely sleuths and a blind-side revelation showcase Opper’s emerging talent as a traditional mystery novelist.”

—Kris Lackey, author of The Chickasaw Nation Mysteries

A diabolical whodunnit debut for fans of Knives Out, Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series and Agatha Christie's Poirot mysteries.

Lieutenant Carl Sarabia, a newly retired homicide detective, moves with his wife Greta from Houston, Texas to Glamis, Connecticut to be closer to their daughter Sarah and her family. The idyllic river town is upended when Merlin Glenmore is found murdered on April Fools' Day, midway through his seance-themed birthday party at the place he despised the most, The Glenmore-Pace Castle, a gothic mansion built by his great-great grandfather, and now a museum run by his sister Jade. Merlin is notorious in Glamis for his abrupt second marriage to a much younger woman only a month after his first wife's tragic death.

There is no shortage of suspects present at the party who wanted Merlin dead. Only two of the guests do not have alibis-and one of them is Carl's son-in-law. Carl swore to Greta he wouldn't involve himself in any more homicide cases, but will he be able to stay out of this one? Meanwhile, Greta conspires with her daughter and in-laws to involve Carl in solving the murder without his knowledge.