"The birds preferred it, and to her, the birds were the point."
~Francine Mathews, page 25
The Summary:
No-nonsense Nantucket detective Merry Folger grapples with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and two murders as the island is overtaken by Hollywood stars and DC suits. Nantucket Police Chief Meredith Folger is acutely conscious of the stress COVID-19 has placed on the community she loves. Although the island has proved a refuge for many during the pandemic, the cost to Nantucket has been high. Merry hopes that the Christmas Stroll, one of Nantucket’s favorite traditions, in which Main Street is transformed into a winter wonderland, will lift the island’s spirits. But the arrival of a large-scale TV production, and the Secretary of State and her family, complicates matters significantly. The TV shoot is plagued with problems from within, as a shady, power-hungry producer clashes with strong-willed actors. Across Nantucket, the Secretary’s troubled stepson keeps shaking off his security detail to visit a dilapidated house near conservation land, where an intriguing recluse guards secrets of her own. With all parties overly conscious of spending too much time in the public eye and secrets swirling around both camps, it is difficult to parse what behavior is suspicious or not—until the bodies turn up. Now, it’s up to Merry and Detective Howie Seitz to find a connection between two seemingly unconnected murders and catch the killer. But when everyone has a motive, and half of the suspects are politicians and actors, how can Merry and Howie tell fact from fiction? This latest installment in critically acclaimed author Francine Mathews’ Merry Folger series is an immersive escape to festive Nantucket, a poignant exploration of grief as a result of parental absence, and a delicious new mystery to keep you guessing.
What a delightful read! I'm new to Francine Mathews's writing and this was a wonderful introduction.
I admit, I was wary going in: this was the first Merry Folger Nantucket Mystery for me; since the series is up to seven books, I was worried I'd be lost in the narrative. Secondly, it was clear this would have a Covid presence and I've got no desire to read that at this point.
My fears turned out to be unfounded. Though I'm eager to read this series from the beginning now, Death on a Winter Stroll (Soho Books, November 1, 2022) is perfect as a standalone. And I also appreciated how well Mathews wove the pandemic into the narrative. It felt natural and not at all as annoying as some other current novels. Indeed, all of this read like real life. a credit to Mathews lyrical writing.
So then, how were the characters? AWFUL but in a very fleshed out realistic way. And I don't mean this in any disrespectful way. We're dealing with Hollywood elites and politicians at the heart of this murder mystery, and Mathews creates some real villains here, but also compassionate and down to earth people and the voice of each sparkles. Mary Alice is a favorite and her newfound relationship with Ansel is heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once. This is some of the most gorgeous writing I've read recently. The setting is so clear--you can smell the beach, see the sparkle of Christmas lights and feel the marsh between your toes.
I'll certainly be revisiting Nantucket and the Merry Folger series!
Many thanks to Soho Press and AustenProse PR for inviting me along on the tour for this lovely book and introducing me to a new favorite author! Find more of my bookish coverage over on Instagram @bookwifebooklife
AUTHOR BIO
Francine Mathews was born in Binghamton, New York, the last of six girls. She attended Princeton and Stanford Universities, where she studied history, before going on to work as an intelligence analyst at the CIA. She wrote her first book in 1992 and left the Agency a year later. Since then, she has written thirty books, including six previous novels in the Merry Folger series (Death in the Off-Season, Death in Rough Water, Death in a Mood Indigo, Death in a Cold Hard Light, Death on Nantucket, and Death on Tuckernuck) as well as the nationally bestselling Being a Jane Austen mystery series, which she writes under the pen name Stephanie Barron. She lives and works in Denver, Colorado.
PURCHASE LINKS for Death On a Winter Stroll:
ADVANCE PRAISE
“This fast-moving mystery packs in a lot, but never too much, and will work for fans of coming-of-age stories, police procedurals, and romance.” —First Clue
“Fresh, well-wrought prose brings the setting of Nantucket to life. Mathews consistently entertains.” —Publishers Weekly
“Christmas and death come to Nantucket . . . Plenty of fascinating characters and myriad motives make for an exciting read.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Mathews consistently places relationships at the forefront of her mysteries, and Merry's unique blend of tenacity and humanity makes her a heroine to root for.”—USA Today bestselling author Karen Odden, author of the Inspector Corravan mysteries
