On the run to a safe haven, Divorcee Jude left London
following the tragic deaths of her parents. Her flight ends
in the small village of Wigtown, Scotland, at Lowland Glen
Books, a dusty and disorganized place she located while on
vacation with her ex-husband the summer before. Jude is a
natural organizer, so she's drawn to the untidy bookstore
and its unique owner, Lowell, who is in desperate need of
an assistant. Lowell also provides Jude with accommodations
on his personal property. Kirk Cottage is located behind
the old church and alongside the cemetery. Jude feels it's
a place she can settle into as she starts making new
friends in the village. It's too bad not everyone agrees
with her.
As Jude starts sorting, cataloging and pricing the
hodgepodge of books stacked in every possible space, she
discovers written messages in some of the books relating to
odd misdeeds from the town's past. Could there be any truth
to the veiled accusations made by the deceased owner of the
books? Both Jude and Lowell are anxious to investigate, but
there are others who will do anything to keep the past
buried. Adding to the drama and suspense is the surprise
appearance of a young woman claiming to be Lowell's
daughter. Soon echoes from the past and mysterious
occurrences in the present are affecting both Lowell and
Jude. Will 30 years of secrets finally be revealed?
Moreover, will justice finally prevail?
QUIET NEIGHBORS by Catriona McPherson is a superb
mystery/thriller. The tidbits of information about Jude's
recent past, as well as Lowell's early past, were so
expertly interspersed throughout the storyline, I found
myself constantly speculating about them and quickly
turning pages to discover the outcome. I was delighted with
the uncommon locale and the distinctive characters, whose
interaction added an extra dimension to the mystery. I have
always enjoyed reading Ms. McPherson's novels and QUIET
NEIGHBORS is another classic example of her writing
expertise. The beginning quickly grabbed my interest and
the intensity never let up until the surprising conclusion.
It’s the oldest bookshop in a town full of bookshops;
rambling and
disordered, full of treasures if you look hard. Jude found
one of the
treasures when she visited last summer, the high point of a
miserable
vacation. Now, in the depths of winter, when she has to run
away, Lowell’s
chaotic bookshop in that backwater of a town is the safe
place she runs to.
Jude needs a bolt-hole; Lowell needs an assistant and, when
an affordable
rental is thrown in too, life begins to look up. The
gravedigger’s cottage
isn’t perfect for a woman alone but at least she has quiet
neighbors.
Quiet, but not silent. The long dead and the books they left
behind both have
tales to tell and the dusty rooms of the bookshop are not
the haven they seem
to be. Lowell’s past and Jude’s present are a dangerous
cocktail of secrets
and lies and someone is coming to light the taper that could
destroy
everything.
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