Detroit Lakes Murder

Rating:
Summary: Ms. Belmonti has written a very promising first mystery
Review: Elin is a retiring novelist who lives on property which has been in her family since they emigrated from Sweden. A freak accident by the oil company blew up her house, and she has rebuilt a modern and comfortable abode. But when she returns from a trip to the Twin Cities, she finds her neighbor and former boyfriend, Neil, has been viciously murdered in his home next door:

"The sliding glass door to the whirlpool was open. She could hear the gurgling outside. The body was lying face down, partially covered with a white robe. Neil's body was completely still. The gash in his scalp was ringed with bone poking through the hair. The blood made a tiny hissing sound as it leaked from the wound, pushing pieces of brain out. As she looked at him, the stain around his head spread."

Erin finds herself working with a new homicide detective in town, Dean Nelson, and as Dean protects Erin from herself and all the evil which surrounds her, they find themselves falling in love. But Erin's search for the murderer of her friend reveals betrayals by the people whom she considered to be the closest in her world.

Ms. Belmonti has written a very promising first mystery. Her plot is well thought out; characters are compelling; and Erin's journey towards maturity and holding some of her demons at bay is a central thread which captures the reader's fancy. Ms. Belmonti is an obvious talent with oodles of sensitivity. Her tale is a bittersweet analogy to most of our lives.

Erin is a warmhearted heroine, whose blind trust in the people around her almost results in her own downfall. But she has wisdom beyond her years, and the tale which Ms. Belmonti crafts around her holds lessons both for Erin and for us all. Detroit Lakes Murder is a fine story, which introduces us to a new author who can only get better after serving up a very credible and entertaining first story. Her prediction of her books stocked in restaurants and bait shops could indeed become a reality. An excellent read!

Leslie Belmonti is a native of Minnesota. She developed her aspiration to become a writer while vacationing in the Detroit Lakes area with her family.

Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer