In the Chill of the Night: a Crooked Lake Mystery

by Robert W. Gregg

The seventh mystery by Gregg set at Crooked Lake, i.e. Keuka Lake, in the Finger Lakes of New York State. Sheriff Carol Kelleher and her professor husband, Kevin Whitman, are faced with two murders within several days. Is this a coincidence or are the victims somehow connected? Also, a local militia is playing "games." Gregg captures the culture and ambiance of Keuka Lake, while spinning a mystery which keeps the reader engaged.

317 pages, Paperback

First published June 3, 2012

About the author

Robert W. (Bob) Gregg, author of the Crooked Lake Mysteries, writes whodunit murder mysteries for his own and his reader's pleasure. Bob is an accomplished professional enjoying his second career as a novelist.

Reviews

[Diane Dates · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the Chill of the Night is Gregg's seventh mystery set at Crooked Lake which is Keuka Lake, the Y-shaped Finger Lake located in central New York State. Gregg uses fictitious names for the local counties, villages, wineries and businesses in the immediate area of Keuka Lake, but Corning, Elmira, Rochester, etc. retain their real names and anchor the setting geographically. In early spring Cumberland County Sheriff Carol Kelleher is confronted with two murders within several days of each other. Her professor husband and partner in solving crimes, Kevin Whitman, is teaching classes at his college located in New York City. Not only is there the question of whether these two murders are linked, but the local militia is playing "games." Near-tragic events bring Whitman back to Crooked Lake to help connect the dots. Gregg, a retired academic and a long-time summer resident of Keuka Lake, captures the culture of year-round and summer residents, as well as the ambiance of Keuka Lake. I have spent summers at Keuka Lake for more than 50 years and can attest to his accuracy. While the motives are contemporary, I found the ending weaker than his previous mysteries. Even so, I look forward to next year's Crooked Lake mystery.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy this series of murder mysteries on Crooked Lake. I live on Keuka Lake, the other name for Crooked Lake so it's fun to see how the author uses fake names as well as real names of towns. In this book he uses Cheektowaga, Brighton, and Rochester -- all of which are real cities in NY state. The main character is a woman sheriff and there's quite a surprise for her while solving the case.