Summerhouse Reunion - The Complete Story is the boxed set of Kathi Daley’s Island Trilogy. The affable characters are well developed, and the well-plotted storyline flows smoothly. The author is very talented in descriptive writing, and I felt like I was right in the midst of the activities taking place and sharing the characters’ tragedies and joys. This is a fun and clean read, with a strong emphasis on caring and compassion, not only for family and friends but for the community as well. Emotions run high, so keep the tissues handy. The complex mystery encompasses cold and current cases, and the red herrings and the twists and turns will keep readers engaged and guessing.
Carrie Davidson arranged for three of her childhood friends, Kelly Green, Nora Hargrove, and Diana “Quinn” Quinby, to return to Shipwreck Island for a long-overdue reunion and to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the summer their friend, Peggy Amundson, went missing. Each of the four women are going through traumatic problems life has dealt them and offer strength and support to one another. Kelly is dealing with the recent death of her twin sister, Kayla; Carrie’s husband recently moved out of their home, and she’s sold the house and bought a condo; Nora fears her marriage may be over; and Quinn, who has finally joined her friends, is burned out and desperately needs a break.
Kelly reconnects with Ryder West, Carrie’s younger brother, who is now a veterinarian and island’s mayor, and Sam Stone, who she’s surprised to learn is the island’s new sheriff. While going through old files left by the previous sheriff, Sam discovers a disturbing pattern of disappearances of sixteen-year-old girls with similar physical traits and interests disappearing every five years, with the first victim most likely being Peggy. Kelly, who spent a decade working as an FBI analyst, convinces Sam to let her help him review old files and look into the disappearances, and Carrie and Nora share what they know about the cases and brainstorm with Sam and Kelly. Things heat up when the daughter of one of their childhood friends goes missing.