Investigative reporter Rebecca Moore has retired from the fast pace in Washington to accept the inheritance from her uncle of a classic motorcar repair shop in the very small county of Blue Marsh, Maryland. It is one of two classic repair shops in the county, hers being very distinct by her uncle’s policy of hiring ex-convicts. Upon arrival she finds she not only has to deal with her deceased uncle’s lax business practices, highlighted by his failure to pay taxes, but also to cope with the problems of her employees as well as the attitude they had forced the town to take about them.

One morning only eight days before Memorial Day and the start of “The Big Race,” Rebecca arrives at work early only to discover a murder victim lodged in the Empire Glass Beader. Fortunately, the writer provided a translation. A glass beader is essentially a very large box with minute particles of glass beads used to strip paint, etc. from cars. The deceased, Graham Stuck, was the owner of the competing car repair shop.

Rebecca’s greatest problem is that this is the second nude deceased male she has discovered in a short period of time. The real reason she fled the capital was that she found the body of her lover in their D.C. bedroom.

The sheriff identifies everyone in her shop, as well as Rebecca, as a prime suspect. The story moves quickly and it is soon apparent that Vera, the widow, as well as about every second person in this rural Maryland town had a very good reason to kill Stuck. And not to be overlooked are some of his customers.

Enter Detective Mick Hagan who is taking some time from his D.C. job to seek resolution in the death of his friend Peter, who was Rebecca’s lover. Since detectives are rather well known for not tolerating coincidences, his attention quickly focuses on Rebecca at her discovery of this second victim. The sheriff sort of deputizes him and he sort of starts investigating.

Skilling has created unexpectedly original characters that you may or may not like, but they are certainly entertaining. At times her plot seems overly complex and peopled by too many characters, but they gradually sort themselves out, leading to some unexpected if somewhat contrived conclusions.

This is one of those rare books where the author uses place and setting with at least as much adroitness as is used in the plot development. Because it is about a world that few of us know anything about, it is very interesting and enjoyable.

--Thea Davis