The Alpine Recluse

Emma Lord #18

by Mary Daheim

In the middle of a hot midsummer night, Emma is awakened by fire trucks rushing to a blaze at the nearby home of newlyweds Tim and Tiffany Rafferty. At daybreak, Tiffany and her unborn child are safe, but Tim, never blessed with good luck in all his thirty-plus years, has perished in the fierce conflagration. Sheriff Milo Dodge suspects murder and arson, and rumors fly from the Burger Barn and Mugs Ahoy to the Grocery Basket and the Venison Inn. Some swear the Rafferty marriage was crumbling. Others hint at stock fraud. A few mention momentary sightings of a possibly mad recluse known as Old Nick.

Sacrificing the heady enticements of a budding romance to nail down a great story, Emma shifts into high investigative gear while her fearless House & Home editor, Vida Runkel, rushes in where angels fear to tread: straight into the private lives of some of Alpine’s most respectable–and now terminally edgy–citizens. But neither Emma nor Vida suspects the unbelievable truth.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Mystery Thriller

315 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 28, 2006

About the author

Mary Rene Richardson Daheim was an American writer of romance and mystery novels.

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I began reading this series when the first book was released, then stopped after the first two or three. I decided to give the series another try and found it just isn't to my taste any more. Pretty light, likable characters, but I just couldn't get into it.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light reading - a little draggy - seemed to take a long time to get to the plot, but the characters were interesting - a nice safe cozy.

[Linnea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved seeing where the characters go in this series.

[Claudia Cheyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heat wave has made the month of August unbearable to the residents of Alpine who normally enjoy pleasant temperatures and rarely need air conditioning. Add to that a lack of rain which has turned the forests into tinder boxes - people who are used to frequent showers have become irritable and short tempered. Emma hears sirens late one evening. A house near hers is on fire. After the blaze is put out a body is discovered. Milo determines that it was murder. Residents reported seeing a local hermit known as "Old Nick" hanging around town before the fire started. Lots of people are searching for him. Emma finds out some interesting background about the recluse as she works to solve her neighbor's murder.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the small town life, where everyone either knows or is connected to someone in town. When Old Nick the local recluse is sighted around the time of a fire and then the discovery of a body everyone thinks he is guilty. But Emma (the editor of the weekly newspaper) starts asking questions and things don't add up. Milo Dodge the sheriff doesn't Emma's helping and sending suspects his way.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, granted this was an impulse grab browsing in the library, and I really resolve never to try a new series starting on #18, but still found this one scattered and unsatisfying, with way too many characters, and no particular progress by anyone in solving the actual homicide.

[michelle mallonee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have lived all her books!

[Darinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 18th book in the Emma Lord series. A light, cozy mystery.

[Shanti · Rating 4 out of 5]

the series is now about developing the characters that have been regular accomplices or set pieces for other mysteries and I love it.

[Sharon Bezrutczyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great series. I can’t wait till my library gets the next two for me so I can follow Emma and Vida and see what shenanigans they get up to

[Geneva Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning felt a little slow, but once the story gets going, it takes you for a wildly fun adventure!

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars

[Andrea Jackson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I should vary my reading from my usual romance, so I picked up a few Mary Daheim mysteries when I was last at the library. It was fine from a technical way, but it didn't engage me at all.

I suppose it would be called a 'cozy mystery' since the mystery solvers aren't professionals. All the characters were quite modern though, which I never associate with cozies. The setting was cozy too but didn't appeal to me. A small remote town with a population that is solidly white and middle class. A little diversity seems more realistic to me.

Since I didn't really like the main characters, the mystery itself seemed tomove very slowly to me. After the first 75 pages, approximately, I skipped to the end and read the last 20 pages. I like to know the solution even if I'm going to finish the book. This one, I didn't. At that point, I closed it up to return to the library. I'll also be taking back the other three books in the series that I check out at the same time.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

#18 in the Emma Lord newspaper publisher in the fictional small town of Alpine in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains mystery series. It is August and a very hot summer and an uncomfortable Emma when a late night fire burns down the house of a young couple who have been married about a year. The husband turns up dead in the rubble and it is determined he was murdered. This starts Emma into investigating why it happened and determine who is responsible.

There is a light tone to the story which is filled with interesting characters.

[Loretta · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one book of Mary Daheim's Alpine series and the first one I have read. I can't say it really impressed me all that much. I have to say I like her Bread and Breakfast series much better. But, this story had an interesting twist and that is the murder victim is eventually found not to be a cad who deserved to die but actually an innocent victim of an abusive family. So, for that I gave it the three stars because Mary has the guts to portray how many families are and how they affect others.

[Belinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good, solid book. Well written and interesting, with a great main character that I feel I know really well already.

Why then only a 3 you ask? Well, I'd readily give it a 3.5 if that was possible...why isn't that possible? I usually reserve a 4 for something completely unique, something that takes me to a place I've never been before. (a five star is all that and a story that possibly will stick with me forever)

[Fredell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and intriguing. Daheim's Emma Lord Mystery series is a unique blend of character study and interplay of the unusual residents of small town of Alpine, WA. This time a young newlywed is murdered in his home and the home is set on fire. Emma, local newspaper publisher, tries not to involve herself in the investigation, but can't help becoming obsessed with it.
I am definitely going to read more of Emma's adventures in Alpine.

[Candace Davidson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read 40 pages and I just couldn't get into the book. No offense to the author but is just not my type of book that I enjoy. I also checked out an additional book by this author but I will not be reading it as I will be returning that book along with this book that I didn't finish reading to the library.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sirens, flashing lights awoke Emma one night. A nearby house is wholly inflame. After the fire is out Tim Rafferty is found. There are reports that a hermit was living in a vacant house. The general feeling is,the hermit started the fire. Vida has Roger organizing his friends,to find the hermit. Another visit with all our friends in ALPINE.

[Judee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The usual characters are back and Emma gets overly involved in another murder. The ending is another surprise which the author does so well. I am glad she has Emma thinking about what she is doing to her personal life. I like the idea of Rolf but I read an article on the author's website that had a spoiler. For their reason I am disappointed in Emma. Vida remains my hero.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting mystery, and the ending was quite surprising. The sub-plot mystery was easy to figure out, and really didn't work as well as a red herring as I think the author had intended, but it was a fun read. Not the best of the series, and definitely skippable if need be.

[☯Emily Ginder · Rating 3 out of 5]

The descriptions of the unbearably hot weather in Washington is realistic, but I thought the ending was improbable and forced. Certainly not the best in the series, but still an enjoyable and fast read.

[Mary Kovarik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alpine Recluse has several very interesting characters. Vida is an interesting woman because she has her nose into everything and she is a foil to Emma Lord, Mary Daheim's main character. II enjoyed reading this story.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another delightful Mary Daheim mystery. I love the interaction of the characters and the story about life in a small town.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoys these; good for a mindless read to clear heavier reading.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy this series about a newpaper publisher in a small town in Washington Statee.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a profound book, but was easy to pick up and read when I got the chance without having to re-read to remember what was going on. Would it be called mind candy?

[Cher · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of those mindless type books where you don't have to think and can just read for pleasure. Enjoyable story but nothing indepth.

[Glenn Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Alpine resident bites the dust and editor/publisher Emma Lord again goes after the killer with the help of her sidekick Vida. Always entertaining.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

First person.