Maggie Holloway, a fashion photographer, reunites with her former stepmother, Nuala Moore, only for Nuala to be murdered shortly after their meeting. When Maggie attends the funeral in Newport, Rhode Island, she discovers that Nuala left her a Victorian house situated near a private retirement residence called Connolly Hall. As Maggie investigates the circumstances of Nuala’s death, she uncovers a series of suspicious fatalities among the wealthy residents of the estate. The plot involves a scheme where the elderly are targeted for their estates, leading Maggie into a trap set by a killer who buries victims alive to conceal the evidence of their crimes.
Readers of classic suspense fiction gravitate toward this story for its focus on suburban peril and inheritance-driven motives. It appeals to those who enjoy solving puzzles centered on family secrets and professional corruption. The reader gains a detailed look at the mechanics of gaslighting and the vulnerabilities of the elderly within institutional settings. By the conclusion, the audience understands how financial greed can manipulate social structures, leaving them with a cautionary tale about trusting established authorities and the importance of scrutinizing sudden deaths in closed communities.
Practical, clear-cut and escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1996
- Language
- EN
