Jill runs a bookshop and has planned for a famous mystery author to come and make a guest appearance. Her aunt is arranging it and keeping the identity secret. Jill has other matters on her mind, like funding for a historical site, which a businessman called Craig Morgan is trying to appropriate for his historic mansion The Castle. Jill has discovered part of an old mission wall on her property and believes she ought to preserve it as local history. Craig however wants more publicity for his antiques. "The man has money, power and the mayor's ear," reflects Jill after a run-in with Craig.

I liked seeing how Aunt Jackie's marketing nous and good- looking barista Toby had increased the takings at the coffee-shop and bookstore, while the location details are excellent. The beach makes an ideal spot to run Jill's Labrador for an hour, but the nightly fog damages the undersides of cars. Jill, as the new person in town, bears the brunt of suspicion when the overbearing Craig is found dead. She's in a relationship with a local police detective, Greg, and he just has to ask these awkward questions. The other characters include the gaily dressed town psychic who also answers phones at the police station, a cool skateboarding youngster who reads, and the dead man's ex-wife who has lost a hundred pounds' weight since splitting from him a year ago.

With references to an earlier story I did feel like a newcomer at first, but the mystery at hand takes over as we get to know everyone over grilled tuna, clams and peppers, with chocolate dream pie to follow. Jill makes some grown- up changes, encouraging our respect, even as she assesses the potential for murder in her neighbours. Under everyone's noses there are some slimeballs around town, and the menace gradually intensifies; the mystery of who the visiting author is also grips all the town's readers! Lyn Calhoon has created an absorbing, good fun mystery in MISSION TO MURDER and she has also written Guidebook To Murder.

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