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  • Published: 14 November 2023
  • ISBN: 9781641295253
  • Imprint: Soho Press
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 288
  • RRP: $36.00

Death on a Winter Stroll




No-nonsense Nantucket detective Merry Folger grapples with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and two murders as the island is overtaken by Hollywood stars and DC suits.

No-nonsense Nantucket detective Merry Folger grapples with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and two murders as the island is overtaken by Hollywood stars and DC suits.

Nantucket Police Chief Meredith Folger is acutely conscious of the stress COVID-19 has placed on the community she loves. Although the island has proved a refuge for many during the pandemic, the cost to Nantucket has been high. Merry hopes that the Christmas Stroll, one of Nantucket’s favorite traditions, in which Main Street is transformed into a winter wonderland, will lift the island’s spirits. But the arrival of a large-scale TV production, and the Secretary of State and her family, complicates matters significantly.
 
The TV shoot is plagued with problems from within, as a shady, power-hungry producer clashes with strong-willed actors. Across Nantucket, the Secretary’s troubled stepson keeps shaking off his security detail to visit a dilapidated house near conservation land, where an intriguing recluse guards secrets of her own. With all parties overly conscious of spending too much time in the public eye and secrets swirling around both camps, it is difficult to parse what behavior is suspicious or not—until the bodies turn up.
 
Now, it’s up to Merry and Detective Howie Seitz to find a connection between two seemingly unconnected murders and catch the killer. But when everyone has a motive, and half of the suspects are politicians and actors, how can Merry and Howie tell fact from fiction?
 
This latest installment in critically acclaimed author Francine Mathews’s Merry Folger series is an immersive escape to festive Nantucket, a poignant exploration of grief as a result of parental absence, and a delicious new mystery to keep you guessing.

  • Published: 14 November 2023
  • ISBN: 9781641295253
  • Imprint: Soho Press
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 288
  • RRP: $36.00

About the author

Francine Mathews

Francine Mattews has worked as a foreign-policy analyst for the CIA. She is the author of The Cutout, which has been purchased for a major motion picture by Warner Bros.; The Secret Agent; and Blown. Under the pseudonym Stephanie Barron, she is the author of eight bestselling Jane Austen mysteries. She lives in Colorado, where she is at work on her next novel of historical suspense.

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Praise for Death on a Winter Stroll

Praise for Death on a Winter Stroll “Multi-generational characters, two violent deaths and the author’s compelling prose all contribute to the appeal of a first-rate murder mystery.” —Tom Nolan, The Wall Street Journal “[Death on a Winter Stroll] is an intriguing mystery, but even more captivating are her descriptions of the island and ocean in winter.” The Denver Post “[Barron] excels at the triad on which successful fiction must rest: plot, people and place . . . A Christmas treat, Mathews’ latest offers joy to the world for fans of classic — and classy — whodunits.” The Free Lance-Star “A captivating whodunit.” —Shelf Awareness “Absorbing . . . It's quite a juggling act to manage such a large cast of characters living in different worlds, but Mathews pulls it off . . . Readers of Dame Ngaio Marsh's "golden age" Roderick Alleyn series would find themselves at home on Mathews' Nantucket.” —Reviewing the Evidence “A fun, quick read, perfect for the season!” —Crime Fiction Lover “Matthews imbues the setting with atmosphere and offers stellar characterizations and telling details as she alternates viewpoints between characters . . . Further kudos to the author for her sensitive handling of ongoing Covid concerns.” —Criminal Element “This fast-moving mystery packs in a lot, but never too much, and will work for fans of coming-of-age stories, police procedurals, and romance.” —First Clue “The perfect Christmas gift for the mystery lover in your life . . . [A] superb holiday mystery.” —Gumshoe Review “Francine Mathews is a smooth and expert crafter of murder investigations that honor the warmth of affection, love, and friendship, even as they showcase tight plots with well-built twists . . . This is one to read and savor multiple times. —Kingdom Books “Twists and turns, mysterious motives, and surprising subplots [lead] to a satisfying ending that won’t spoil your holiday spirit. This is an ideal quick read to escape the pressures of the holiday season—a well-plotted, gripping novel that you won’t want to put down once you start.” Yesterday's Island/Today's Nantucket “An immersive escape to festive Nantucket, as well as a poignant exploration of grief as a result of parental absence. A thoroughly entertaining mystery.” —Midwest Book Review “Fans of Katherine Hall Page’s Faith Fairchild mysteries will appreciate the careful way this investigation unfolds in the atmospheric Nantucket-set story.” Library Journal “Fresh, well-wrought prose brings the setting of Nantucket to life. Mathews consistently entertains.” Publishers Weekly “Christmas and death come to Nantucket . . . Plenty of fascinating characters and myriad motives make for an exciting read.” Kirkus Reviews Praise for the Merry Folger Mysteries "A mystery that’s so suspenseful it’s hard not to skip a chapter to see if certain deeply likable characters are still alive . . . The novel lives and breathes New England island life, with a plot brimming with the best kinds of rude surprises." —The Washington Post  "A story of murder and mayhem set against a chilling storm that threatens all of New England . . . what makes Death on Tuckernuck so riveting is Mathews' description of the storm and turbulent sea."