In the Shadow of Death: A Chautauqua Murder Mystery

Mimi Goldman Chautauqua Mysteries #1

by Deb Pines

THE GRIPPING DEBUT NOVEL OF AWARD-WINNING NEW YORK POST HEADLINE WRITER DEB PINES.

Mimi Goldman leaves New York City in 1997 to work for a small-town newspaper in the middle of nowhere, Chautauqua, NY. When her landlord drops dead at a community race she’s covering, Mimi suspects foul play. And soon she’s in a race of her own to catch a killer…

… before the killer gets her.

In the Shadow of Death: A Chautauqua Murder Mystery is a fun twisty whodunit. Can’t-put-down reading for the beach — or your porch in Chautauqua.

Genres: Mystery

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 31, 2013

About the author

A Brooklyn, NY, native who grew up in Miami Beach, Fla., Deb Pines writes mysteries by day and award-winning tabloid headlines for the New York Post by night.

A Brown University grad, Deb was also a reporter at the New York Law Journal, Indianapolis Star and various other publications before she got bitten by the mystery-writing bug.

Her 2013 debut Mimi Goldman mystery, set in the Chautauqua Institution in far Western NY State, IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH, has been called "required reading" (NY Post), "perfect . . . if you enjoy an old-fashioned whodunit" (Post-Journal of Jamestown, NY) and "a truly fun quick-witted mystery with an engaging protagonist and array of other memorable characters. With a dash of romance and history, it's the perfect read for a summer getaway -- and a page-turner in any season." (Goodreads).

It's available on Amazon.com along with her 2023 novel EVIL FOR EVIL and earlier works: WICKED SCHEMES, A PLAGUE AMONG U , CROOKED PATHS, FRUIT OF LIES, VENGEANCE IS MINE, BESIDE STILL WATERS, DELIVER US FROM EVIL and her 2014 novelette, WHERE'S THE BEEF?, all set in Chautauqua, too.

Deb, a grandmother, is also a SoulCycle indoor cycling fanatic, cook, hiker, music lover and former Mystery Writers of America committee chair in New York City where she lives with her husband Dave.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this up because I love Chautauqua and have been there several times. I enjoyed the references to the Atheneum Hotel, Bestor Plaza, and other places familiar to me. However, I'm wondering if all of the readers who gave this four stars read the same edition I did. The font was huge, which was annoying, and indents were inconsistent. And the editing was terrible: LOTS of fragments and commas. A few fragments are ok, but there were so many it was distracting. Oh, and while there were a lot of commas, the Oxford one was strangely missing, and in some places it resulted in a confusing sentences.

Here are a few of the sentences I noted while reading, copied exactly:
"Depending on the time of day, her angle and mood." (Huh?)
"She felt great in the coral-colored silk Chanel suit Brad had bought for her and her mother's pearls." (He bought a suit for her and her mother's pearls?)
"Eventually, after more bickering and interrogating, the sisters, finally rose." (Why is there a comma after "sisters"?)
"When Doc, put the baggie in a fanny pack he wore around his waist, Mimi asked..." (And why is there a comma after "Doc"?)
"Where political satirist Mark Russell got a lot laughs..." (I think we're missing an "of.")
"So after making sure Jake was asleep--which he was--she stepped outside..." (Why include "which he was"? She already said, "after making sure he was." She didn't say "checking to see.")
"Sometimes what my sister considers humorous." (Huh?)
"Fought him very step of the way." (I think we're missing an E.)
"So Wilson is all over the rest of us to keep pushing pedal to the medal." (The medal?)

As for the actual plot, it was ok except for one glaring problem:
We have a woman who is working on a murder case, who has been warned off said case, and who fears she is a target of the killer. WHY would she swallow three capsules in a baggie labeled "energy boosters" that she finds on her kitchen counter? Why would anyone, murder target or not, swallow any capsules of unknown origin? That was just unbelievable, and if it hadn't been so close to the end the book, I would have stopped reading there.

Can't recommend.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite places (and one that I have spent far too little time in) is Chautauqua, New York. And when I saw a mystery set there, I knew I had to read it (since I had imagined the possibility of setting one there myself, but never actually written any of it). And this was a fun read. As I understand it, this was started within a year or two of my first and longest visit there, so it was very much like my memories of the place.

There were a couple of things I noticed that could be tightened, a copy editor here and an implausible scene there, but for the most part, it fit my memories of the place and my expectations for the genre, and I will definitely have to read more of her books!

[G]

(Full disclaimer - I work with the author!)

A quick, catchy read with a wonderful sense of place. The details make it clear this is a community beloved by both characters and author. A glimpse into small-town journalism, plus an interesting murder or two and a dash of romance. Fans of the genre will be fans of this.

[AngelaGay Kinkead · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I thought this was predictable and I was a bit bored, but stayed with it for the setting. Chautauqua Institution and Lake Chautauqua are fave places for me. Loved her weaving of place, history, and local culture into the book. A third of the way in, I realized, I didn't know who did it and continued with more interest. More complex than I thought, held my breath a few times, and ready to read more of her series.

[Shirley Goetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good mystery!

The plot was good, characters had personality. Jake, what a smart kid! Definitely held my interest from beginning to end. I will be reading more of this author's work. I wish there had been a map of the Hansen property and how all the rental.places were located in relation to the Hansen house and all the buildings mentioned.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because I have two other books in this series and wanted to read the first book first. And because once upon a long time ago I worked with the author so I was curious. Unfortunately, this book reads like a first book and could have used a much more skilled editor. I'm hoping her books get better.

[Sarah Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, it’s a timeless “whodunit” with lots of twists and local history for those from Chautauqua County! Cannot recommend enough! I loved learning more about my local area, and exploring a new to me author’s writing style! Deb Pines has me hooked on her series! If you enjoy Agatha Christie & Murder, She wrote and the like- this is for you!

[Connie Schneider · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great explanation of a lot of Chautauqua history!

[Tom Oelsner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting particularly if you have been to Chautauqua. Not great literature but entertaining.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having lived in Chautauqua County, and been at Chaurauqua 2 seasons, this book was ever so alive for me. Deb Pines had me guessing until the end. Well done!

[Monika]

C-1

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chautauqua live nearby and love reading these stories

[Mary Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Especially fun read for someone who has "been there".

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

"In the Shadow of Death" is a truly fun, quick-witted mystery with an engaging protagonist and an array of other memorable characters. With dashes of romance and history, it's the perfect read for a summer getaway -- and a page-turner in any season.

[Maggie Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pines's debut novel had me guessing the entire time--I honestly couldn't put it down. Really suspenseful, fun, and enjoyable. I would totally recommend it!!

[Mary Crotty · Rating 5 out of 5]

great page turner! Loved the locale having spent time at Chautauqua - fun and a quick escape!