She’s not a detective but she played one on TV

“A Dead End” by Keeley Bates was one of the shortest books I’ve read in a long time. It is just one in a series featuring Katherine “Kit” Wilder.

Kit left the affluent enclave of Westdale as soon as she was out of high school and headed for Hollywood. Amazingly, she lands the lead role of Ellie Gold in the successful cop drama, “Fools Gold.” Sadly, she quickly earned a reputation for being difficult to work with and at twenty-three she loses her job and is blacklisted in the industry. Determined to regroup, Kit returns to Westdale and enrolls in college.

To save money, she purchases a home in foreclosure. It seems the previous owner skipped town to avoid his debts. Kit was eager to restore the hardwood flooring in the living room, but soon discovers human bones beneath some displaced boards. This must be the body of Ernie, the previous owner. Who in quiet, genteel Westdale would have killed him and hidden is body in the house?

Since this is a homicide, the case is turned over to Detective Romeo Moretti. Since her home is now a crime scene, Kit is forced to return to her mother’s house. Her mother is as acidic as ever and very quickly suggests that Kit find the right man and get married. Kit knows she has to get back to her own home fast, so she begs Moretti to let her help in the investigation.

Westdale is home to the exclusive Mayflower descendants and Kit’s family line comes from the most important members of that group. Outsiders are looked down on, so interviewing the dead man’s neighbors requires a finesse Kit has and Moretti needs.

It is no secret that the late Ernie was strongly disliked. He didn’t take care of his investment, so the value of neighboring properties dropped. He consistently parked a massive motor home in the driveway thus shading a neighbor’s precious rose bushes. But the neighbors are all older women who dealt with Ernie by calling the police.

Juggling college courses and investigating keep Kit busy, but she’s grateful that Moretti has accepted her help with the case. He’s upset that the bones seem to have disappeared between the crime scene and lab. He suspects that the Chief is behind it but has no idea why the man would hide evidence in a murder case. There has been no trace of Ernie’s motor home either.

Each question seems to bring up more questions but no answers. Finally, Kit’s first big clue comes when she takes two of her classmates out to ride her horse. When one of the girls sustains a cut, the stable hand uses his shirt to stop the bleeding. It is then that Kit sees a physical abnormality shared by the bones hidden in her house. The dead man can’t be the missing Ernie. It has to be Carl, the stable hand’s older brother.

That revelation is chilling. It means that Ernie is still alive. If so, is anyone in the neighborhood safe? Catching a killer and surviving to tell about it will require Kit to channel all of Ellie Gold’s strength, skill and determination.

It doesn’t take any skill to enjoy a book. Short, long, deep or lighthearted, each has it’s own merit. Treat yourself to a good read soon. Access your public library and check it out.

AT A GLANCE

BOOK: “A Dead End”

AUTHOR: Keeley Bates

PUBLISHER: Red Palm Press LLC

PUBLISHED: Aug. 25, 2015

PAGES: 182