"A master of the mystery & suspense genre." -Midwest Book Review

Summer on Dickens Island is especially busy this year with the installation of the ferry line to Connecticut and plans to build a new community of homes. Delia Dickens is doing her part to make Welcome to Dickens Island Day a success in hopes of attracting buyers for the new houses.

Lionel Pfister has convinced the community to link the Dickens Day event with a fundraiser for the genetic disorder his granddaughter suffers from. While Delia considers this a worthwhile cause, she's heard too many negative stories about Lionel's character to trust his motives. Peggy Philian, her best friend's mother, is besotted with Lionel, and offers to help with the fundraiser any way she can.

Lionel holds an open house as part of the fundraiser, but nothing goes according to plan. A famous actress shows up and delivers a shocking disclosure. Visibly upset, Lionel asks his guests to leave. Shortly after, Delia learns that Peggy's been murdered and the money is gone.

Though Delia suspects Lionel is the thief and the murderer, there is no evidence to lead to his arrest. She investigates and discovers that Lionel's been cheating some of his neighbors out of their retirement savings a la Bernie Madoff. "You're a devil!" one victim tells him. And he's not the only one who hates Lionel's guts.

Will Delia's snooping make her another victim or will someone finally put Lionel in his place?

Fans of Merryn Allingham, Deany Ray, Ellen Byron, and Jacqueline Winspear will enjoy Allison Brooks.