Book description
When Newbury Connecticuts three hundred year old village cemetery is
invaded by a gaudy, half-million dollar mausoleum, Ben Abbott is not
happy. Newcomer Brian Grosess tall, wide, mirror-polished eruption of
eternal ego sticks out in the peaceful burying ground like a McMansion
in an apple orchard. Bens fellow drinkers at the bar have nicknamed the
monstrosity, McTomb. But no one expected to find Brians body locked in
his mausoleum, fifty years ahead of schedule. Then Homeland Security
Immigration Criminal Enforcement agents descend on Newbury hunting for
Charlie Cubrero, an illegal immigrant farm handand supposed gang
leaderwho bought a gun after he was stiffed for fifty bucks by Brian
Grose. Ben Abbott doesnt buy it. Half the town was in the graveyard
celebrating Newburys tercentennial when Brian was shot and most of them
were mad at him. Besides, Ben admires the hard working Charlie. And he
fears that the news that the illegal worked for the Village Cemetery
Association will destroy the venerable society already torn asunder by
suing and counter-suing anti-mausoleum traditionalists and pro-mausoleum
insurgents. The well-crafted fifth Ben Abbott whodunit (after 2006's
McMansion) opens on the beautiful summer's day that graces the
tercentennial celebration in Newbury, Conn. As members of the town don
period costumes to portray people of the past while village residents
tour the serene cemetery, recorded classical music suddenly blasts from
the large, ostentatious mausoleum nicknamed the “McTomb,” recently
erected by real estate developer Brian Grose. When the tomb is opened,
its murdered owner is found inside. The Newbury Cemetery Association
wastes no time in bringing in Ben Abbott, real estate agent, private
detective and ex-con, to solve the case. When an Ecuadorian immigrant
unexpectedly becomes the prime suspect, Ben seeks to exonerate him while
investigating the many other people who despised Grose and wanted him
dead. The intriguing mystery features a cast of fascinating characters
and an honest look at the effects of modern ideas and design on a
steadfast New England town. Justin Scott is the author of twenty-two
novels. He has been called the Dick Francis of yachting. In his other
life as a mystery writer, he created the Ben Abbott detective series and
was twice nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award. He holds Bachelors
and Masters degrees in American history. He lives in Connecticut with
his wife, the filmmaker Amber Edwards.
