Lydia Krause moves to a Long Island retirement community, where she uncovers a resident’s criminal past and sets off a series of homicides.
Lydia Krause has no sooner moved to Twin Lakes, an upscale retirement community on Long Island, when she recognizes the man she's been introduced to as the group's financial advisor is the convicted embezzler who drove her sister to suicide. She has a public shouting match with his wife, who is discovered dead the following morning, mowed down by Lydia's Lexus. In the process of clearing her name, Lydia makes friends and enemies, helps resolve her grown daughters' problems, and finds new love.
Excerpt
Detective Molina appeared deep in thought. Finally he spoke. “It’s quite a puzzle we have: two women, both Twin Lakes residents, argue in public. The following morning, one woman’s dead, struck down by the vehicle of the other.”
Lydia’s hand flew to her pounding heart. “I didn’t kill Claire Weill! Why should I? Besides, I wouldn’t be stupid enough to use my own car!”
He gave her a sidelong glance. “That might be considered a stroke of genius.”
Lydia gasped. This detective managed to twist whatever she said into a damning statement.
Professional Reviews
Fast-paced well plotted mystery!!,
Arden Wesley returns to her home town because her cousin, Suziette, has been murdered leaving behind her husband, Brett Waterstone, and her young daughter Leonie. When Suziette's will is read, Arden has been named as Leonie's guardian. She loves Leonie, but there is a big problem--the girl's stepfather, Brett, also loves Leonie and Leonie loves him as her father. Arden is torn because she doesn't want to leave her good job as a lawyer in New York, but she also doesn't want to take Leonie away from the only father that she knows. Of course it isn't long before she realizes she has feeling for Brett and he for her--though nothing is simple for either of them.
Though the romance is the main part of the story, there is still the big question, who killed Suziette? There are many suspects and a disagreeable detective as the tale unfolds, Suziette's indiscretions revealed and motives uncovered. While Arden wrestles with her decisions and feelings, she realizes she also is in danger with threats coming from several directions.
Dangerous Relations would make the perfect Lifetime move. If you like a strong romance woven into a compelling mystery, you'll love this romantic suspense.~~Cheryl Green
Lots of mystery, lots of suspects, loads of fun
In this first Twin Lakes mystery, we meet Lydia Krause, a highly competent businesswoman, now retired, who on her first social outing in her new gated community has a very public fight with a man she recognizes as the ex-con who caused her sister's suicide and an even more explosive exchange with the man's wife. Lydia thinks her proven business expertise will translate into ability as an amateur detective. She needs a detective, because early the next morning someone uses her car to kill the woman she fought with, and naturally enough she's the prime suspect. So she decides to play sleuth.
I loved this book. Lydia is so very real, as are the troubles she manages to get herself entangled in. I'm looking forward to the other books in the series. Will Lydia learn from these troubles to let the professional detectives solve their own cases? Somehow I doubt it!
Great Read
Lydia Krause tells off a nasty, vindictive and totally in the wrong woman she bumps into in a restaurant …a woman who is murdered that very night.
What a tremendous kick-off to A Murderer Among us. This mystery is gripping and dynamic from the opening. You will be completely involved by the end of the first chapter, and Levinson never allows a slack moment. Lydia is a very easy to identify-with main character, dealing with everyday stuff, as well as driven (understandably) to try to clear her own name.
The investigation thunders along even as her daughter’s issues distract her and a potential for romance hovers as well. She’s hardly popular in her new neighborhood, although she does have supporters. She’s suspected by the police…although a certain inspector might be interested in her for other reasons. Actually, she seems quite distracted by that certain policeman.
Lydia’s investigation, which starts off looking tentative, involves a hunt for motive but turns up actual clues as well. It also causes some further events, endangering Lydia herself and causing… well… let’s not ruin it! One great feature to this mystery is the element of, well, mystery! Little is predictable!
A Murderer Among Us is both like and unlike a typical murder mystery; our main character’s circumstances make this personal, and her approach to ‘solving the case’ might be considered unorthodox. Levinson’s style is straightforward and thoroughly enjoyable: do read.
Following several murders, means, motive, and opportunity all point to out-of-work actresses Bootsie Kittredge and Babs Harrison. Their claims of righteousness and lack of guilt seem fabricated, thanks to a cheerfull announcement made to the patrons
