Murder at St. Hilaire

by Frances McNamara

Newly retired Boston Police officer Lucy O'Donnell invites Meilan Lin to join her on a vacation to the Caribbean Island of St. Hilaire. When a young man is found dead in the hot tub, Lucy has to use her skills as a homicide detective to keep Meilan from arrest.

Was it a mistake to invite Meilan? Lucy has to question the wisdom of what she thought was a good deed when her new friend is implicated in the murder of the Chinese businessman. Is the crime rooted in the Chinese Cultural Revolution in the past, or in the future of the island of St. Hilaire?

293 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 24, 2025

About the author

Frances McNamara grew up in Boston, where her father served as Police Commissioner for ten years. She has degrees from Mount Holyoke and Simmons Colleges, and formerly worked as a librarian at the University of Chicago. When not working or writing she can be found sailing on the Charles River in Boston or beaching on Cape Cod.

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Reviews

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

St. Hilaire may be fictional, but any reader will enjoy the trip to this Caribbean island made real with the author’s ability to put the reader in a very contemporary setting that goes beyond the pool and bar scene to illustrate island realities at work beneath the surface of tourist tropes for a very engaging mystery.

Frances McNamara is adept at describing enticing, yet different locales and this book has many. Her detective, Lucy O’Donnell, is a totally down-to-earth believable Boston character and I am looking forward to her future investigations in this new mystery series.

The writing grabs the reader right from the beginning with vivid, unexpected Chinese historical, yet personal, info that brings the reader close to one of the main characters, Meilan Lin. The author uses her expert research skills to bring us face to face with the terror and harrowing choices of those who lived through the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Meilan, a Chinese grandmother, has a blunt approach and sharp words about each new situation which allows the strong mystery themes to flow with unexpected humor through the many twists and turns of a story that takes us from China to Boston to the Caribbean in a satisfying and delightful tale of intrigue, mystery and adventure.

As an avid reader of Frances McNamara’s engaging historical mysteries, I must say this contemporary book is my favorite. Impeccably plotted this mystery delivers not just a clever plot but self-assured wit and the sometimes hilarious, but believable, antics of Meilan Lin as Lucy O’Donnell patiently and cleverly goes about solving the murder at St.Hilaire.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder at St Hilaire was a fun multi-layered mystery set on the fictional Caribbean island of St. Hilaire. Recently retired Boston police captain Lucy O’Donnell is struggling with being nudged out of her job and decides to take a trip to mark this change in her life. The peaceful vacation quickly takes a dark turn as murders start piling up. Any normal vacationer would likely be fearful and wary but helping with the investigation gives Lucy purpose.

Lucy takes her sister Norah, her friend Mary, and her co-workers’ mother-in-law Meilan (who she doesn’t know) on the trip. Taking Meilan on the trip made me scratch my head but it was essential for the story that unfolded.

Meilan’s backstory’s was fascinating. Living through the Chinese Cultural Revolution and being on the opposite side of her family caused her a lot of pain. While she was a very unlikeable character, I really enjoyed her edgy personality and her interactions with Lucy. I loved how she referred to Anna Maria as Ms Vanderdander.

While I guessed who the murderer was early on, there were a lot of interesting twists and angles I wasn’t expecting. I did think the relationships of the people on the island were a bit too coincidental (particularly Jake).

I was a Goodreads giveaway winner.

[Sunshine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a full five star read for me. Murder at St Hilaire pulls you into a bright island setting that hides a dark mystery. The story follows Lucy O Donnell as she arrives and gets pulled into a shocking murder case. Lucy feels real and grounded. She notices small details and asks the right questions. Her drive to find the truth keeps the story moving at a steady pace. The setting feels vivid and alive. The tension builds with each new clue.

Meilan stands out as a strong and stubborn character. She refuses to back down even when it would be easier to stay quiet. Her choices create conflict and push the story forward. Her stubborn nature adds depth and makes every scene with her feel important. The dynamic between Meilan and Lucy O Donnell is one of the best parts of the book. They challenge each other and bring out different sides of the case. The mystery is engaging and the ending feels earned and satisfying.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a Goodreads Giveaway win - Thank you!

This was a very interesting read and kept one guessing as to what was going to happen next!