Twisted at the Root

July 1, 2019
In MWA Grandmaster Hart’s enjoyable 26th Jane Lawless mystery (after 2018’s A Whisper of Bones), Minneapolis restaurateur and part-time PI Jane agrees to help her defense attorney father get a retrial for Rashad May, who was convicted of murdering his husband, Gideon Wise, after new evidence points to Rashad’s innocence. Shaky timelines, some conflicting evidence, and an extensive pool of suspects complicate Jane’s efforts. Unfortunately, one of those involved in the case is Jane’s troubled documentary-filmmaker brother, who suddenly shows up. As Jane angers locals with her probing questions, her sidekick, theater maven Cordelia Thorn, does her own sleuthing. Together, they track leads, ponder red herrings, and find there’s far more to Gideon’s murder than meets the eye. Another death and an attempted murder raise the stakes. A few seasoned pros may figure out whodunit before the end, but this is a quibble. Distinctive characters and solid plotting underscore the strength of this long-running series. Agent: Deborah Schneider, Gelfman Schneider Literary.