Murder at the Abbey

 Murder at the Abbey (2020) by Irina Shapiro

In this second book of the Redmond and Haze mystery series, a beautiful young woman is found dead in the ruins of what the locals consider to be a haunted abbey. It took a great deal of courage for the local tavern owner, out with an early morning delivery to investigate the strange white object lying on the grass. Elizabeth Barrett had gone early to the abbey to paint. But her session was cut short and she was lying on her back...

...her fair hair spread about her head like a golden halo. At first Davy thought she was asleep, but as he drew closer, he noticed her eyes were open, her gaze seemingly fixed on the lone bird wheeling above the stone arch. Her arms were outstretched, and a paintbrush was held loosely in her right hand, her elegant fingers still wrapped around the polished wood.

Constable Haze is called to the scene as is (Lord) Captain Redmond. The captain serving in the capacity of police surgeon. He soon discovers that the death is not as peaceful as it appears. Elizabeth Barrett was poisoned with cyanide. Someone who knew her well must have administered it.

But as Haze works through the investigation, it seems that everyone liked Elizabeth. Her husband adored her. Her sister talks about her in glowing terms. Her art tutor speaks of her great talent and her friends in the art world also believe she was very good. But someone wanted her dead...is it possible she had a secret. Perhaps an affair with the tutor...or a fellow artist? And if so, perhaps her husband found out? She's found to be with child--was it his? Or perhaps his brother didn't want an heir to decrease his chances of eventually scooping the pot? Or maybe there's a motive the investigation just hasn't brought to light yet?

I enjoyed the second in this series. I enjoyed watching the recurring characters settle in with each--the continuing relationship between the constable and the captain. The growing relationship between Redmond and the vicar's daughter. It was nice to get more insight into the more periphery characters. But the mystery isn't quite as mystifying as the debut in the series. Though Shapiro tries to give us plenty of suspects, there really wasn't much in the way of good, solid motives running around for the red herrings. Once we learned a certain tidbit about a certain person, it was pretty clear to me who did it and what the motive was. I think Shapiro is still finding her footing in the mystery genre and I have every hope that future installments will be have a bit more challenge in the mysteries. ★★★ 

First line (Prologue): The morning was cool and fresh, the cloudless sky promising the kind of day that made Davy happiest.

First line (1st Chapter): Daniel Haze lifted his hand in greeting when he saw the tall figure of Jason Redmond striding across the grassy expanse of the abbey grounds.

"Jason, all of us are where we are in life because of an accident of birth." (Daniel Haze; p. 69)

Last line: "I have a feeling we're about to find out," Jason replied as he followed Daniel out into the night.
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Deaths = 4 (two natural; two poisoned)