Whispers in the Mist by Lisa Alber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I read Kilmoon, the first in the County Clare mysteries, shortly after it came out and was intrigued by the characters and setting. It was a good debut.
On the second book, Alber has a new publisher (I think – Midnight Ink) and she knocks it out of the park.
Everything from Kilmoon is back. The Irish countryside, the small village characters (and a few new ones). But it’s all stronger. Fast-forward a year and Lisfenora is in the middle of another MatchMaking Festival. But this September is foggy, damp, and more than a bit foreboding. It’s something that permeates every aspect of the story. The book starts a bit slowly perhaps, but it ramps up quickly. Old secrets, village pettiness, and new troubles all combine for a great stew.
I kept ready feeling a great sympathy for Detective Sergeant Danny Ahern – perhaps because, like him, I felt the fact that would unlock the entire mystery danced just beyond my grasp. I went back and forth on believing I had the answer. Ultimately I did, but Alber’s ability to make me doubt myself was admirable.
Some authors fear the Sophomore Slump with a second novel. Alber should have no fears on that count with WHISPERS IN THE MIST.