Book Review: Rituals of the Season

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Rituals of the Season     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Margaret Maron
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character   Police Procedural   Legal Setting
Series: Deborah Knott # 11
Mysterious, Aug 2005, $23.95

North Carolina Judge Deborah Knott and her fiancé sheriff deputy Dwight Bryant are looking forward to tying the knot. Her large family welcomes Dwight into the fold by renovating Deborah’s dilapidated farmhouse and prepare for the wedding of the one person no one thought would ever walk down the aisle.

Meanwhile Colleton County Assistant District Attorney Tracy Johnson dies in what appears to be a tragic car crash. However, the cause of death turns out to be a bullet as an assassin shot and killed Tracy while she was driving. Dwight leads the official investigation into the homicide. Meanwhile though her calendar is full with the steps leading to her nuptials, Deborah reviews a request by two students who believe that death-row convict Martha Hurst is innocent with her execution almost to the day of the Judge’s wedding. Though their prenuptial agreement consists of one item, never to discuss their respective cases, this time the two inquiries come together as the DA Doug Woodall insists his case remains airtight, but Tracy demands to see the files.

Readers will appreciate this fine police procedural-legal thriller as Dwight and Deborah get set to tie the matrimonial knot while working interconnected investigations. The story line is action-packed whether the duo wok together or go solo. Fans will ponder whether Tracy was killed to end her inquiry into the Hurst conviction while also wondering whether the lead pair will say I do. Hopefully future North Carolina mysteries will contain this fine teaming as Margaret Maron's murder mystery is magnificent.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner