Grimes admits this is somewhat autobiographical in that, like her heroine, she spent her summers with her mother who cooked for a hotel for long term visitors. There she waited tables and ran errands for guests and helped out with her brother’s amateur theatrical productions. But Emma also detects things. Previously she ferreted out the mystery behind the death of a twelve year old girl from decades earlier and now she’s a reporter for the local newspaper and somewhat of a celebrity. When she comes upon the ruins of a 1930s hotel, she senses another mystery beckoning. It seems that a child disappeared or was kidnapped and the authorities failed to ask the right questions at the time. Then there is that stranger who appears just on Emma’s peripheral vision….

Like Harper Lee’s Scout or Jane Austen’s own Emma, this Emma is a treasure. She wheedles information out of her elderly aunt by bringing her a specially mixed drink and frustrates her would be beauty queen cousin Ree-Jane with her tall tales and hints of superior knowledge. The local sheriff doesn’t dismiss her though and knows that when she asks for his help there is a real need.

When her brother decides to stage a musical production of “Medea” you are in for a treat. How anyone could hope to make light of this classic tale of deception, revenge, witchcraft and cannibalism is certainly an uncanny idea. Emma agrees to appear as the “dues ex machina” and truly brings down the house.

With this series Martha Grimes presents a cast of characters that remind us of people we actually know or would like to know. Since I stumbled upon this gem I intend to go back and read the previous books so I won’t miss out on the complete picture. Lately her Richard Jury mysteries have left much to be desired - did you ever believe the disappearance portion of The Grave Maurice? Perhaps she should leave Jury alone for a while and concentrate on Emma.

--Jane Davis