Lucinda's Summer Vacation (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Five Star Mystery Series) [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Fackler (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Lucinda arrives at the isolated mountain home of her lover, Devon Gray, anticipating a romantic summer vacation. She looks out the window and sees flashing lights from police cars in the neighbor's yard. The neighbor, Natalie Wieland, has been murdered, and Devon was there when she died. Devon must explain to both Lucinda and the police why he was there. Lucinda, her daughter, Amy, and Devon begin sorting through the guilt and complicity that emerge from this situation. All three find themselves suspects, but both Devon and the chief of police were having affairs with the deceased. Devon feels guilty because Natalie asked him for help on the last day of her life. Now he feels that he must find the killer, but he also must maintain a low profile because he has run from a murder he committed in El Paso. Fackler has created a story with complex characters that will appeal to fans of psychological drama. Bibel, Barbara

Product Details

• Hardcover: 271 pages
• Publisher: Five Star (August 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594145504
• ISBN-13: 978-1594145506
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,740,423 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating Psychological Thriller, August 29, 2007

By 

joe barnes "joe-joeb" (Santa Fe, New Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lucinda's Summer Vacation (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Five Star Mystery Series) (Hardcover)

I've followed Devon Gray through four books now and he gets more fascinating with each one. Lucinda, his latest girlfriend, is a keeper, and her daughter adds intriguing counterpoint to their lusty affair. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a story with depth and characters as real as your neighbors.

5.0 out of 5 stars This romantic suspense tale is full of action and interesting sub-plots, August 16, 2007

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lucinda's Summer Vacation (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Five Star Mystery Series) (Hardcover)

Lucinda drives up to Salado, New Mexico to be with her lover Devon before her daughter Amy joins them. They live in separate homes because Devon is a fugitive, having committed murder and she doesn't feel that a lasting commitment between them is possible even though she loves him dearly. Often making love, Devon steps out of the house at 3:00 a.m. to see his neighbor widow Natalie Wieland; but when he gets there, he finds her dead body brutally slashed.

Lucinda wakes up and through her tears realize Devon and Natalie were lovers. She can't complain because neither promised the other exclusivity. When Amy hears what happened, she comes up to lend her support and discovers that the chief of police thinks that all of them could have committed the killing. Lucinda's motive was jealous; Amy's was protecting her mother; while Devon was afraid Natalie would tell Lucinda about their affair. Devon inserts herself into the murder investigation to clear his name and discovers that Natalie had to have other lovers including the sheriff and her brother in law, but struggles with a better motive than those pinned on him and his female guests.

This romantic suspense tale is full of action and interesting sub-plots that gives the reader other likely suspects, who had viable motives but the investigation centers on figuring out who had the incentive to kill. Lucinda is brave woman to love a fugitive knowing she will eventually lose him and her daughter is an amazing person who can accept what he did and love him. Readers will admire Elizabeth Fackler's ability to tell a credible sleuth story.

Harriet Klausner