The Saltwater Murder - A Posie Parker Mystery, Book 7

I have really been enjoying the character of Posie Parker.  I love a good mystery, and I definitely love a good female detective.  Author L.B. Hathaway has managed to meld the two nicely, and each book not only further develops the characters(not just Posie, but also all of the members of her supporting cast), and if there's one thing I've learned to date, it's to never assume that any character is safe from harm.  Over the course of the first six books, poor Posie has lost a couple of loves, has been jilted by another, and has watched her friends suffer the loss of ones they love.  In a way, it's like the old joke about Jessica Fletcher - if she invites you to a dinner party, you might want to decline, because someone always ends up dead!  With this series, though, Hathaway keeps peeling more and more layers back from Posie's past, as we meet new people time and again that have a connection to this early 20th century detective, and in this book, that past has its consequences.

The Saltwater Murder introduces readers to Amyas Lyle, an up and coming lawyer who has made it big in such a short time, and is getting ready to further his career thanks to the position and influence of his father-in-law.  But Posie knows a different side of Amyas.  When he mentions needing her help with something, she promises to meet with him the next day.  The only problem is, the next day turns out to be too late.  Inspector Lovelace calls her in on the case, asking for her assistance in figuring this out - he seems to be in a rush to get this one solved, and Posie can tell there is something on his mind.  It seems everyone else knows but her, and when she (and the reader!) does learn what it is, it comes as a real shock!  It's definitely a life changer for both of them.  But let's leave that for later...

The mystery is definitely one that is just chock full of secrets.  Amyas was living a double (triple?) life.  His wife has her own secrets she is keeping.  And there is Amyas' law partner who has made no secret of his desire to get the position Amyas was taking.  Of course, we also can't forget the Head Clerk, George, who was facing his own dilemma at the hands of Amyas.  And lest we forget, just how in the world can Posie spot Amyas alive and well outside of his house days after his death?  Well, there's definitely a reason for that, and my suspicions on that turned out to be correct (but you don't honestly think I'll spoil the surprise and tell you here, do you?).

Hathaway provides plenty of twists and turns, and with each secret revealed, there are two more to uncover.  Posie learns not only more about her brother, but also about Amyas' past interactions with him and why her brother hated the lawyer so much that he warned her away from him while he was in college.  But every time she thinks she has a feel for what type of person Amyas is (was), she learns something new that makes her question everything.  But it is the trip to Whitley Bay that literally changes everything, both for Posie and the case.  She goes there initially to meet up with Max, but when he fails to show, she starts to investigate the connection of Amyas Lyle and Whitley Bay.  It is here she discovers some of the answers she has been looking for - but before she can truly act, she gets called back to London by the most unexpected source - the spy agency for which Max works!  It seems Max was working undercover and has gone missing and is presumed dead, making the second love that Posie has lost in the same number of books.  Poor Posie!  But, let's remember - in any fictional setting (books, movies, television, comics, etc.) - if there is no body, then that means the person is very unlikely to be dead and will probably show up again at some point in the future! (At least, we can hope!)

This is the first Posie Parker mystery that I literally could not put down.  I kept reading, turning page after page, and finished the book in less than two days (which is a record, since I normally take three or four days to read one of Hathaway's books!).  The mystery truly was that good.  And the epilogue - well, let's just say that the decision Inspector Lovelace has to make has some very, VERY life-changing affects for both him and Posie.  I am definitely looking forward to the next book to see where these characters go from here!

I realize I am really far behind in this series (this is only book seven, and there are 15 books listed on Amazon), since I came into it late.  But I am working my way through, and I am loving every one of them.  If the rest are anywhere near as good as this one, then I know I'm in for one heck of a great ride!

RATING:  10 containers of nitric acid out of 10 for a gruesome murder, an unlikely murderer, and a surprising ending!