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Christine Bennett #10
The Labor Day Murder
MURDER BURNS ON FIRE ISLAND
Island old-timers are stunned by the shooting death of Blue Harbor's popular fire chief, followed by the mysterious torching of his house. Rumors soon begin to flare up about the chief's rumored affairs with a vacationing lady lawyer and a girl half his age.
But when former nun (now sleuth) Christine Bennett and her police detective husband start asking questions, a thick fog of evasiveness closes in. For this is not the first fire to scorch Blue Harbor. Nor, Chris suspects, is it the first murder--as she soon discovers that the passions that turn good people bad run long and deep and deadly. . . .
Island old-timers are stunned by the shooting death of Blue Harbor's popular fire chief, followed by the mysterious torching of his house. Rumors soon begin to flare up about the chief's rumored affairs with a vacationing lady lawyer and a girl half his age.
But when former nun (now sleuth) Christine Bennett and her police detective husband start asking questions, a thick fog of evasiveness closes in. For this is not the first fire to scorch Blue Harbor. Nor, Chris suspects, is it the first murder--as she soon discovers that the passions that turn good people bad run long and deep and deadly. . . .
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
18 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Lee Harris
103 books77 followersA pseudonym used by Syrell Leahy.
Lee Harris is the author of the mystery novels featuring ex-nun Christine Bennett, who first appeared in The Good Friday Murder, an Edgar Award nominee. She also writes the New York Mysteries, which debuted with Murder in Hell's Kitchen. In 2001, Lee Harris received the Romantic Times magazine Career Achievement Award for her distinguished contribution to crime writing.
Lee Harris is the author of the mystery novels featuring ex-nun Christine Bennett, who first appeared in The Good Friday Murder, an Edgar Award nominee. She also writes the New York Mysteries, which debuted with Murder in Hell's Kitchen. In 2001, Lee Harris received the Romantic Times magazine Career Achievement Award for her distinguished contribution to crime writing.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 1, 2022
This is the first for me in this series, so, there are probably a lot of things that have gone on beforehand that would give reasons why total strangers would be willing to answer questions asked by a person who is not a police officer, an attorney, or even a friend. Of course, I know this is fiction and I do love a good mystery and it was chosen by a group for a discussion, so I read it all.
Christine and her family are able to take a wonderful vacation in a beachfront house on Fire Island in the community of Blue Harbor. Fire Island is a nice little community, accessible from ferry, where some residents live full time and other residents rent their homes out to summer vacationers.
During the Labor Day festivities, the local fire chief is found dead in his home, and it's not by natural causes. He was murdered. Christine sees a young vacationer close to the scene of the crime, becomes suspicious, and for some unknown reason, decides that she is the one to solve this murder. She begins to ask questions to people who don't know her, and a lot of them are willing to answer these questions even though it's none of her business in the first place. As mentioned earlier, she has no credentials requiring anyone to answer anything she asks. Past island secrets come to light as another present day murder is committed.
It's a nice plot, easy to read, all the characters (even the bad guys) are likeable.
I rated it "ok" because I just can't get past the fact that I don't believe people would answer a total stranger’s questions, some of them personal, as easily as they did. I would like to believe I wouldn't do it - innocent or guilty.
I usually start a book series with book #1. Think I better stick to that from now on.
Christine and her family are able to take a wonderful vacation in a beachfront house on Fire Island in the community of Blue Harbor. Fire Island is a nice little community, accessible from ferry, where some residents live full time and other residents rent their homes out to summer vacationers.
During the Labor Day festivities, the local fire chief is found dead in his home, and it's not by natural causes. He was murdered. Christine sees a young vacationer close to the scene of the crime, becomes suspicious, and for some unknown reason, decides that she is the one to solve this murder. She begins to ask questions to people who don't know her, and a lot of them are willing to answer these questions even though it's none of her business in the first place. As mentioned earlier, she has no credentials requiring anyone to answer anything she asks. Past island secrets come to light as another present day murder is committed.
It's a nice plot, easy to read, all the characters (even the bad guys) are likeable.
I rated it "ok" because I just can't get past the fact that I don't believe people would answer a total stranger’s questions, some of them personal, as easily as they did. I would like to believe I wouldn't do it - innocent or guilty.
I usually start a book series with book #1. Think I better stick to that from now on.
August 29, 2022
I felt a bit frustrated with the beginning of the book. Chris alone asked questions and followed clues as a one woman show. Finally by the time she talked to Joseph, the book then took up like the other series where more people were working together and she was still the heroine we know and love. Excellent author with another great book.
August 21, 2017
Fun story, but heroic effort at suspending belief required to accept premise as to why Chris pursues this murder.
July 7, 2019
A ex-nun now a wife and mother and boy does she get herself in the middle of mysteries. Married to a cop helps alot. This story shows how small towns work when everybody knows everything about their neighbor and friends. . Great story and characters, this is the first book I read from this author I have to put her on my list of authors to read.
January 24, 2020
Chris Brooks goes on vacation and ends up working on multiple murders. This is another good one! I can't figure out the bad guy until the mystery is solved!
August 1, 2022
I really enjoy reading this series. I like how Chris and Joseph talk thru these murders.
September 4, 2022
Pretty good little holiday story.
September 5, 2023
Good murder mystery - of course I read it over Labor Day!
December 30, 2015
Christine Bennett, her husband Jack, and their small son Eddie head to Blue Harbor on Fire Island, New York, for a two-week vacation including the Labor Day holiday. They've been promised plenty of fun, sun, beach time and relaxation. No one mentioned house fires and murders.
Long-time residents are stunned when the house of Blue Harbor's fire chief, Ken Buckley, goes up in flames. They're even more stunned when Buckley is found dead in the house. But he's not a victim of fire or smoke inhalation...he was shot before the fire was started. Though everyone claims what a great guy the chief was, there are plenty of motives lurking on the island--from the rumored affairs with island ladies, a vacationing lawyer, and even a girl half his age to his involvement in the ruining of a former resident's daughter to whispers of secrets from years past.
Chris sees the young girl running from the burning house and wonders what her involvement is...especially when Tina Frisch denies having been there. This time Chris gets involved to prove her own credibility--since the local police seem unwilling to believe her word instead of Tina. She starts asking questions soon finds clues that lead to another fire 15 years ago. Another murder and the disappearing lawyer add to the mystery. But Chris's nose for the truth leads her finally to the killer.
Generally speaking, these mysteries featuring Chris Bennett are fun and light. No matter how difficult the subject matter, Lee Harris rarely gets gritty when writing about it. This one does push the envelope on cozy in the final scene--making it the most grisly wrap-up in the series so far. Other than that, we definitely stay within the cozy realm and the book can easily be finished in an evening. While it may be said that Chris seems to have a lot of "luck" in her investigations, they are always interesting and her character is very likable and believable. It helps that she really likes what she does and is very compassionate in her dealings with victims and perpetrators alike. I highly recommend this series when you want something satisfying but not too heavy.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
Long-time residents are stunned when the house of Blue Harbor's fire chief, Ken Buckley, goes up in flames. They're even more stunned when Buckley is found dead in the house. But he's not a victim of fire or smoke inhalation...he was shot before the fire was started. Though everyone claims what a great guy the chief was, there are plenty of motives lurking on the island--from the rumored affairs with island ladies, a vacationing lawyer, and even a girl half his age to his involvement in the ruining of a former resident's daughter to whispers of secrets from years past.
Chris sees the young girl running from the burning house and wonders what her involvement is...especially when Tina Frisch denies having been there. This time Chris gets involved to prove her own credibility--since the local police seem unwilling to believe her word instead of Tina. She starts asking questions soon finds clues that lead to another fire 15 years ago. Another murder and the disappearing lawyer add to the mystery. But Chris's nose for the truth leads her finally to the killer.
Generally speaking, these mysteries featuring Chris Bennett are fun and light. No matter how difficult the subject matter, Lee Harris rarely gets gritty when writing about it. This one does push the envelope on cozy in the final scene--making it the most grisly wrap-up in the series so far. Other than that, we definitely stay within the cozy realm and the book can easily be finished in an evening. While it may be said that Chris seems to have a lot of "luck" in her investigations, they are always interesting and her character is very likable and believable. It helps that she really likes what she does and is very compassionate in her dealings with victims and perpetrators alike. I highly recommend this series when you want something satisfying but not too heavy.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
July 23, 2010
Vacation venue + Chris Bennett/Lee Harris = crowd pleaser!
In her tenth outing, Lee Harris gives us amateur sleuth, ex-nun Chris Bennett on vacation with husband Jack and 9-month old baby Eddie, on Fire Island, New York, over Labor Day. The action takes place in the little pedestrian-only town of Blue Harbor, where friend Melanie Gross has a house for two weeks her family suddenly can't use. At first, we get a lot of vivid and interesting descriptions of this unusual setting, a narrow, 32-mile island off the shore of Long Island. The vacation house is lovely, the town almost utopian, and a good time is unfolding for all. Alas, a fire burns down the fire chief's house, killing him in the process, soon ruled a murder. Chris sees a young woman hurrying away from the scene, which is all it takes to get her off and running to solve both this crime, and ultimately, one that took place many years earlier (her specialty). The remainder of the plot is the quizzing and interviewing and visiting of countless residents and suspects until all becomes clear near the end. Another murder mid-way through keeps up the suspense, and a mysterious lady lawyer adds more intrigue as the investigations proceed. Our only quibble might be that the perpetrator ultimately spills the beans just a little too voluntarily for real life. In sum, "Labor Day" is a fairly typical Harris outing - enjoyable, pleasant, and puzzling enough to entertain in much the same fashion as the nine books preceding it.
If Harris has one thing going for her, it's dependability. Her plots have enough action to sustain the story but not enough to tire or overly tax the brain. We get to know the Bennett family more intimately as time passes, and are watching the baby develop before our eyes (wonder if Lee is a new grandmother?!). There's little to criticize, though some might also say, little to get overly excited about - just a nice clean three-or-four hour read from an author and her leading lady with whom we consistently relax and enjoy. OK?
In her tenth outing, Lee Harris gives us amateur sleuth, ex-nun Chris Bennett on vacation with husband Jack and 9-month old baby Eddie, on Fire Island, New York, over Labor Day. The action takes place in the little pedestrian-only town of Blue Harbor, where friend Melanie Gross has a house for two weeks her family suddenly can't use. At first, we get a lot of vivid and interesting descriptions of this unusual setting, a narrow, 32-mile island off the shore of Long Island. The vacation house is lovely, the town almost utopian, and a good time is unfolding for all. Alas, a fire burns down the fire chief's house, killing him in the process, soon ruled a murder. Chris sees a young woman hurrying away from the scene, which is all it takes to get her off and running to solve both this crime, and ultimately, one that took place many years earlier (her specialty). The remainder of the plot is the quizzing and interviewing and visiting of countless residents and suspects until all becomes clear near the end. Another murder mid-way through keeps up the suspense, and a mysterious lady lawyer adds more intrigue as the investigations proceed. Our only quibble might be that the perpetrator ultimately spills the beans just a little too voluntarily for real life. In sum, "Labor Day" is a fairly typical Harris outing - enjoyable, pleasant, and puzzling enough to entertain in much the same fashion as the nine books preceding it.
If Harris has one thing going for her, it's dependability. Her plots have enough action to sustain the story but not enough to tire or overly tax the brain. We get to know the Bennett family more intimately as time passes, and are watching the baby develop before our eyes (wonder if Lee is a new grandmother?!). There's little to criticize, though some might also say, little to get overly excited about - just a nice clean three-or-four hour read from an author and her leading lady with whom we consistently relax and enjoy. OK?
October 20, 2014
#10 in the Christine Bennett series. The setting of this outstanding series entry moves to Fire Island when Chris is offered the use of a vacation home for two weeks. Enjoyable factoids abound about the 32 mile long barrier island 5 miles south of Long Island, NY. The site of the mystery, Blue Harbor, is fictitious but that should not detract from enjoying this engrossing cozy.
#10 - Christine Bennett series - Fire Island old-timers are stunned by the shooting death of Blue Harbor's popular fire chief, followed by the mysterious torching of his house. Rumors soon begin to flare up about the chief's rumored affairs with a vacationing lady lawyer and a girl half his age. But when former nun Christine Bennett and her police detective husband start asking questions, a thick fog of evasiveness closes in. For this is not the first fire to scorch Blue Harbor. Nor, Chris suspects, is it the first murder--as she soon discovers that the passions that turn good people bad run long and deep and deadly.
#10 - Christine Bennett series - Fire Island old-timers are stunned by the shooting death of Blue Harbor's popular fire chief, followed by the mysterious torching of his house. Rumors soon begin to flare up about the chief's rumored affairs with a vacationing lady lawyer and a girl half his age. But when former nun Christine Bennett and her police detective husband start asking questions, a thick fog of evasiveness closes in. For this is not the first fire to scorch Blue Harbor. Nor, Chris suspects, is it the first murder--as she soon discovers that the passions that turn good people bad run long and deep and deadly.
May 29, 2016
I like how earnest Chris, and most of the characters, are. It's nice that the author takes the time to make note of what Chris is thankful for and the mundane details of her life.
I only wish Harris had left a few more clues as to how it was all connected so that the ending wasn't quite such a Big Bang.
I only wish Harris had left a few more clues as to how it was all connected so that the ending wasn't quite such a Big Bang.
August 16, 2009
Chris and family take a vacation and there is a fire with concern as to who died and why.
March 31, 2011
people allow this woman with no standing to interrogate them? 2nd half redeems slightly
September 7, 2013
who killed the fire chief? fun, light mystery
November 3, 2013
this is the not the best of the series but am looking forward to Lee Harris getting back to form in the next one
February 15, 2016
Lee Harris writes a good read, this is typical of the others. Fun, quick and keeps you involved.
Read
September 11, 2018Again, Lee Harris produces a deftly plotted mystery. While most of the ones I have already read have dealt with cold cases of many years past, this one has elements of both current mysteries as well as early ones. I have to say, the ending was quite a surprise. Bottom line, I recommend this book and this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews