Larkspur

A competently written formula mystery, this author showes an excelent grasp of skills needed to interweave complex family and emotional ties into the story. Lark is a book store owner who is invited to a wealthy old man's mountain estate because of her mother's status as a poet. Her boyfriend comes too. Natually, there are some murders, which Lark sort of/somehow gets involved in solving. This story surprised me with the twists of the plot, always logical but unexpected. The "lark" series reminds me of Charlotte McCleod's Max and Sarah Bittersjohn stories but with a more brooding flavor.