The inimitable Faith Fairchild returns in a chilling New England
whodunit, inspired by the best Agatha Christie mysteries and with hints
of the timeless board game Clue.
For most of her adult life, resourceful caterer Faith Fairchild has
called the sleepy Massachusetts village of Aleford home. While the
native New Yorker has come to know the region well, she isn't familiar
with Havencrest, a privileged enclave, until the owner of Rowan House, a
secluded sprawling Arts and Crafts mansion, calls her about catering a
weekend house party.
Producer/director of a string of hit musicals, Max Dane--a Broadway
legend--is throwing a lavish party to celebrate his seventieth birthday.
At the house as they discuss the event, Faith's client makes a startling
confession. "I didn't hire you for your cooking skills, fine as they may
be, but for your sleuthing ability. You see, one of the guests wants to
kill me."
Faith's only clue is an ominous birthday gift the man received the week
before--an empty casket sent anonymously containing a twenty-year-old
Playbill from Max's last, and only failed, production--Heaven or
Hell. Consequently, Max has drawn his guest list for the party from the
cast and crew. As the guests begin to arrive one by one, and an ice
storm brews overhead, Faith must keep one eye on the menu and the other
on her host to prevent his birthday bash from becoming his final curtain
call.
Full of delectable recipes, brooding atmosphere, and Faith's signature
biting wit, The Body in the Casket is a delightful thriller that
echoes the beloved mysteries of Agatha Christie and classic films such
as Murder by Death and Deathtrap.
