Bloodstains with Bronte

Emily Cavanaugh, on sabbatical from her teaching job at a Portland, Oregon, college, is in Stony Beach to turn her inherited Victorian mansion into a writers' retreat and, perhaps, to rekindle a romance with sheriff's detective Luke Richards. Unfortunately, at a murder-mystery-night fundraiser at the mansion, a member of the cast, Jake Newhouse, is found dead, with Emily's housekeeper, Katie a young, single mother standing over him holding a bloody knife. Katie, who has a past with Jake, remembers nothing of what happened, and Emily is convinced of her innocence. However, Luke considers Katie a suspect, and Emily withholds evidence from Luke, straining their budding relationship. The writers'-retreat theme opens the story to plenty of literary references, and there are also details about home remodeling and decorating woven throughout this cozy, set in small-town coastal Oregon and featuring a middle-aged main character trying to decide whether she should totally change her life. Chapters begin with quotes from Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre.--O'Brien, Sue Copyright 2017 Booklist

In Hyde's lackluster second Crime with the Classics mystery (after 2016's Arsenic with Austen), former literature professor Emily Cavanaugh hosts a murder mystery event at Windy Corner, the mansion she inherited from her great-aunt in Stony Beach, Ore. The game turns deadly when one of the actors, a local youth with a bad reputation, is stabbed to death. Katie Parker, Emily's beloved housekeeper, has a powerful motive, and the ensuing investigation jeopardizes Emily's newly rekindled romance with sheriff Luke Richards. Emily identifies her own suspect, a construction worker obsessed with Katie and reminiscent of Wuthering Heights' Heathcliff. Meanwhile, Luke enlists Emily's aid in solving the crime, despite her civilian status and lack of objectivity. Implausible plot lines and one-dimensional characters may put off some readers, but those who appreciate literary allusions and quaint settings might enjoy a visit to Stony Beach. Emily's Eastern Orthodox faith and Christian themes figure prominently throughout, adding crossover appeal for the evangelical market. Agent: Kimberly Cameron, Kimberly Cameron & Associates. (Dec.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.