Marcie's Murder is set against the backdrop of a small town named Harmony. The story explodes with a first chapter that places Lieutenant Hank Donaghue in serious trouble as a potential suspect in a woman's murder while he's on vacation there. His partner, Detective Karen Stainer, arrives on the scene to help him out, and things heat up as she negotiates his freedom in no uncertain terms. In an odd twist, the detectives end up helping the local police solve the murder.
Donaghue and Stainer are mainstays in a cast of entertaining characters McCann has created in Marcie's Murder, the second installment in the series. Donahue is cool and collected, whereas Stainer is outspoken and quick to react. The contrast in personalities doesn't diminish their ability to read each other when interviewing suspects. If anything, the disparity in their approaches adds a realistic and interesting perspective to the investigation and to the dialogue between them.
The other members of the cast are equally fleshed out and their individual history, temperaments, and quirks contribute to a well-rounded story. Several suspects are offered as events unfold, but when the real killer surfaces, everything falls into place and results in an action-packed capture.
Marcie's Murder is an easy read, the setting and characters feel genuine, and it's apparent McCann has done a lot of research on weapons and small-town attitudes. I definitely recommend it and look forward to the next book in the series.