Labor Day Murder (Christine Bennett Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Lee Harris (Author)

Book Description

Series: Christine Bennett Mysteries | Publication Date: June 28, 1998

MURDER BURNS ON FIRE ISLAND

Island old-timers are stunned by the shooting death of Blue Harbor's popular fire chief, followed by the mysterious torching of his house. Rumors soon begin to flare up about the chief's rumored affairs with a vacationing lady lawyer and a girl half his age.

But when former nun (now sleuth) Christine Bennett and her police detective husband start asking questions, a thick fog of evasiveness closes in. For this is not the first fire to scorch Blue Harbor. Nor, Chris suspects, is it the first murder--as she soon discovers that the passions that turn good people bad run long and deep and deadly. . . .

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-Christine Bennett, her husband Jack, and their nine-month-old son head out to New York's Fire Island for a vacation. Festivities for the island's Labor Day celebration end abruptly when the fire chief is murdered. Using Jack's status as a detective, the couple conduct their own investigation and come up with myriad contradictory leads. It's only after the second, seemingly unrelated death that the mystery moves to an exciting culmination. Drawing on the picturesque environment of Fire Island, Harris provides vivid descriptions of the sun, sand, and sea. The setting becomes important as the murders take place and the landscape becomes a major factor. Rounding out her characters with an economical use of words, Harris continuously feeds in more personal details as the story progresses and the major players emerge. The killer's identity and motive should come as a surprise to most readers.
Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

I always look forward to a new mystery by Lee Harris. Her novels about ex-nun Christine Bennett are in that central range between cozy and hardboiled -- the perfect balance. Ever since I encountered Christine Bennett in THE GOOD FRIDAY MURDER, which was nominated for an Edgar Award as best first novel, I've been fascinated by the author's depiction and development of her heroine -- Christine matures in surprising (but always believeable ways) as the series continues. It would be hard to pick my favorite Lee Harris mystery, but certainly among my favorites is THE CHRISTENING DAY MURDER, in which a thirty-year-old unsolved murder has impact on present-day menace.

--Joe Blades, Associate Publisher

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett (June 28, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449150178
• ISBN-13: 978-0449150177
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #194,438 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another fine book from Lee Harris..., July 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Labor Day Murder (Christine Bennett Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

I thought the New Year's Day Murder wasn't quite up to the Lee Harris standard I was used to, but The Labor Day Murder is just great. Chris, Jack and Eddie are on vacation, and of course, stumble upon a murder; is it related to an incident of 15 years ago? Harris writes so well, Chris is a wonderful character, the descriptions of the town of Blue Harbor are charming and Sister Joseph helps put everything in perspective. I want more Holiday Murders from Lee Harris!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for the beach!, July 29, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Labor Day Murder (Christine Bennett Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Lee Harris has done it again with another mystery for ex-nun Christine Bennett. You can almost smell the salt air, feel the breeze on your face, and hear the seagulls as the action unfolds! When a philandering fire chief is murdered in his own bed during the biggest parade of the season on Fire Island, Christine proceeds to investigate and uncovers yet more unsolved crimes before the solution is revealed!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great book, by the master of mystery!, August 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Labor Day Murder (Christine Bennett Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Lee Harris has done it again! This had to have been one of the best holiday murder books yet. Keep the great writing work up Lee! I wish Lee would write some more holiday books faster than about 2 books a year. They're great!