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My wife lets me touch Victoria Houston's Loon Lake Mysteries only after she sets the book down, having savored every page. Thankfully, this rarely takes long. The eighth book in Ms. Houston's fresh and original mystery series proved no exception.

In contrast to one or two of the earlier books, "Dead Madonna" grips your attention almost immediately as a young raconteur suffering from the effects of the night before finds the disfigured corpse of a young woman under an affluent tourist's party boat. The book jacket lets us know the grisly discovery takes place the same day "that a prominent widow is found bludgeoned in her gracious home."

Shorthanded, the toothsome Loon Lake Police Chief Lew Ferris enlists the aid of recurring character Doc Osborne, a widower (and yes, as my wife eagerly said when I picked up the novel for my turn, the romantic tension continues). The storyline has multiple threads, it is possible to spot the clues, and as with her earlier novels, Ms. Houston mixed in ample does of humor and hilarity with her corpses and crimes. Everyone should enjoy the returning antics of handsome Ray Pradt, all around extraordinary fishing guide.

As always, this novelist has a particular skill in evoking a crisp sense and feel of Wisconsin. Even if unfamiliar with the Lake Loon mysteries, anyone should be able to pick up the interplay between the characters without first reading any of the earlier novels. I do recommend, however, that you eventually pick up the earlier seven Lake Loon Mysteries. Each one is a gem.

Learn more about this author, Brad Kincaid.
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