Claire is immediately charmed by the country inn and by letters she and precocious Meredith find in their bedside table drawers, addressed to the Secret Drawer Society, a tradition, they learn, of guests, who anonymously write down their darkest secrets and leave them for future guests. The legend of a woman in white (a ghost) completes the scene.

The murder of a waitress, Mona Lisa, and an early snowstorm strand the guests of the inn, including Mona's elderly father and her brother, a poet and his wife, and the innkeeper, his wife and pyromaniac son. Being too impatient for the local police and tired of waiting for Wally to arrive, Claire and Meredith begin investigating on their own, realizing that someone among them is a murderer and may not hesitate to strike again.

Who Killed Mona Lisa? is a fast-paced, light-hearted read that is reminiscent of a traditional closed room mystery, where all the suspects are present and accounted for. The inn makes a wonderful setting and the Secret Drawer Society adds an extra charming touch. Meredith and Claire are developing into a formidable duo. Claire, who just had a bad end to an unstable relationship and is beginning to become more sure of herself, is assuming responsibility for herself and Meredith. Meredith is very precocious, though she has had a rough first twelve years with divorced, sometimes disinterested parents. She is a bit of a smart-mouthed, know-it-all at times, but she is growing up bit by bit and turning into an enjoyable character.

The murderer is easy to pick out, even though there are appropriate red herrings and the clues are well laid out. The history of the inn and town add to the overall atmosphere of the mystery. One of the stronger additions in this fledgling series will have readers eagerly waiting for the next Claire and Meredith outing.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry