Fatal Reunion (Detective Inspector Carol Ashton Mystery)

"Fatal Reunion" is the second installment in the Carol Ashton detective series. The reader is introduced to Christine, Carol's ex-lover who was briefly mentioned at the end of "Lessons in Murder." Although Carol is not officially on the case, Christine begs for her to help prove her innocence when her husband is found murdered. But as Carol and Christine become re-acquainted after three years of separation and a bad breakup they both realize that their feelings and desires have not completely disappeared causing significant strains in Carol's new relationship with Sybil. Carol finds herself at a fork in the road concerning which woman she wants. In addition Carol remains in the closet in fear that her lesbian relationships will be revealed and her professional career jeopardized.I enjoyed this book because it provided insights into the character of Carol pertaining to her motivations in her personal life that were absent in "Lessons in Murder." The detective work is good but the book itself is a little too thin. This isn't my favorite lesbian detective series but that won't stop me from continuing reading subsequent books in this series. I am anxious to see the relationship between Carol and Sybil progress further.

I enjoyed reading Fatal Reunion. It was a nice time killer but not a book I would particularly read again. This is not to say I don't plan on reading the third book in the series. Just that the author walks the reader through the mystery from the first murder to the arrest. I am happy to say Sybil made it into the second book and the scenes between her and Carol adjusting to life together were nice.

This second book in the Carol Ashton series provides some background into her past lovelife and how the past has affected her ability to love as well as her child's custody. In this novel we meet her former lover, Christine who still has a hold on Carol's heart. This causes obvious strain with Carol's lover, Sybil. In the course of her investigation, Carol must come to terms with her past with Chris in order to solve a murder case that seems open and shut. All the while, she must reconcile her feelings for Sybil as well as for Christine. This book is one that you just can't put down. From the moment Christine enters the picture until the very last page, the questions about what will happen abound. It is a delightful read that proves that Claire McNab has a handle on the complexities of her characters and develops well what "makes them tick". I can't wait to read #3.