DUNES 'TIL DEAD

As a former police chief tries to change her life, she’s pulled back into old paths as two dead bodies wash up in her seaside hometown.

It’s the summer of 1976, and in the fifth Mickey Cleary mystery, Mickey has things on her mind beside America’s Bicentennial. As she tries to become a New Jersey state trooper, a misogynistic fellow recruit aims to get her kicked out. As if that wasn’t enough, she and her husband are discovering that his time in Vietnam might have health consequences. Then two bodies wash up on the shore amid sand piled to make them look like snow angels. Meanwhile, a young man named Danny Casolaro works at a bar, and Maryalice Delaney, his friend and co-worker, is missing. His boss shares a rumor that she got married to some random guy and left town, but Danny knows that’s not like her. He’s worried because of a strange patron who came to the bar a few days ago. At the same time, a woman named Jacquie has been kidnapped but escapes into the Pine Barrens. There, she meets Sister Marian, a nun who previously went to Mickey for help. As Mickey is brought in on the case of the two dead bodies, she realizes she has a personal connection to the victims. This furthers her resolve to bring the suspect to justice, but as she delves deeper into the case, she learns an even more dangerous secret. Waters, a physician, gives a vivid picture of the setting, centered on the real-life town of Surf City on Long Beach Island. Mickey’s character shows development as well as maturity for the treacherous situations the plot brings her way. Other characters, such as Danny, Jacquie, and Marian, are shown to have their own personalities and dynamic qualities. This interesting cast of characters helps push the fast-paced plot forward, with surprising turns that enhance the mystery.

A smart and fun detective story with a New Jersey accent.