A Timely Vision: 10/27/13

A Timely Vision by Joyce Lavene and Jim Lavene is the first book in the Missing Pieces mystery series. Dae O'Donnell is an antique dealer and the mayor of Duck, North Carolina — a thin strip of sand just off the coast of the mainland. Along with her two jobs, she also has the ability to find things — a talent she saves only for special occasions.

Miss Mildred, one of a pair of Duck matriarchs, comes to Dae to find the watch she has loaned her sister. Dae finds both the watch and the sister — dead in the sand. Mildred is accused of the crime and Dae feels its her duty to prove the police wrong.

The murder of Miss Elizabeth brings to light a long ago mystery of a missing con man from the prohibition era. Clues abound on Duck, including in an abandoned hotel, recently purchased by someone who has his sights on Mayor Dae.

For me it was the right combination of interesting characters, cozy mystery and long lost secrets. The exploration of the old hotel was icing on the cake. There are four more books in the series, the most recent one being A Finder's Fee (2013). I plan to continue with the series.

Five stars

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