The Body in the Birches

The Body in the Birches by Katherine Hall Page Summary: At home on Sanpere Island, Maine, caterer and amateur sleuth Faith Fairchild discovers that real estate can be murder, especially when it’s all in the family, in this twenty-third book in the popular mystery series. The Fourth of July is one of the hottest on record and even the breeze off Penobscot Bay can’t seem to cool things down for Faith Fairchild and the rest of the folks on Sanpere Island. But the fireworks are just beginning. After the celebrations are over, Faith discovers a body in the woods near The Birches, an early twentieth-century “cottage.” The body is identified as The Birches’ housekeeper, who seems to have succumbed to a heart attack. The death is only one of the dramatic events upending the historic house. A family gathering has been called to decide who will inherit the much loved, and very valuable, estate that has been in the Proctor family for generations. With this much money involved, it’s just a matter of time before trouble arises. Faith is juggling her own family problems. Her teenage son, Ben, has started a new job as a dishwasher at The Laughing Gull Lodge—learning things that could land him in very hot water. And her daughter Amy is worried about her new friend, Daisy Proctor. Daisy is terrified—convinced that someone is trying to eliminate her mother from getting a share of The Birches. To protect her children, Faith has to find a possible murderer—before he strikes too close to her own home. Angie's Comments: The Body in the Birches is another installment in the Faith Fairchild Mystery series. You can read it as a stand-alone, but you would probably enjoy it more if you have read other Faith Fairchild series books. Much of the book focuses on the Proctor family and the machinations the family members indulge in in order to inherit the property. The plotlines involving the Proctor and Fairchild families come together at the end. I wasn’t able to figure out who the murderer was until the end. This might not be the best Faith Fairchild mystery, but if you like the series, I would recommend this book.  Request this item