Shaded Light

With matchmaking on her mind, Ellen Brodie looks forward to a quiet weekend with her husband, her son, and her favorite cousin’s attractive daughter, Lorry Preston, who is visiting from Alberta.

But the weekend is doomed when Ellen’s husband invites his two legal partners and their quarreling wives; one of the legal partners includes his wife’s wallflower sister; Ellen’s son brings his devastatingly handsome best friend; a black sheep nephew shows up; and a new neighbor descends on them because of renovations. If that wasn’t enough, Lorry discovers a body in the Japanese garden.

The law arrives in the persons of series characters Detective-Inspector Paul Manziuk and Detective Constable Jacqueline Ryan.

"Ontario police detectives Paul Manziuk and his new partner, Jacqueline Ryan, make an odd team—he's white, an abrupt, patronizing veteran, while she's a recently promoted, vivacious black woman—but in Lindquist's debut mystery the two rub elbows and tempers to captivating effect…Like Agatha Christie, Lindquist spends a lot of time developing a believable web of personal relationships before introducing the murders. However, she updates the Golden Age template with modern police techniques (Ryan has degrees in both psychology and criminology). The result is a cozy that will delight fans who appreciate solid, modern detection. Publishers Weekly

"Detailed characterization, surprising relationships, and nefarious plot twists provide ample diversion; this first mystery is recommended for most collections." Library Journal

“While this is not a "religious" mystery, it has a preacher's daughter as a character in what is probably the best, most realistic and honest portrayal I have read in contemporary fiction of any sort. There are snippets of sound theology (nothing preachy) as the young woman responds to the curiosity of fellow guests at a house party. (This is an excellent read, in any case, very much in the classic mystery structure, and it suckered me right up to the end.)” Carole Ann Nelson (on Dorothy L)

This is a fast paced book that was really hard to put down. At different times I suspected each and every person who was present except for the one who actually did it! Ms. Lindquist has taken a large cast of characters and made them all into fascinating people, each of whom has something to hide and/or some reason to resent the victim. They are complex, as are their relationships and the writer has made them believable. About.com/Mysteries (Lorraine Gelly)

"A cozy reminiscent of the best Agatha Christie had to offer….You have humor, complications, and characters so real that you can just about touch them and smell their sweat. Good stuff!” Midwest Book Review

“Highly Recommended. N. J. Lindquist writes an entertaining Canadian cozy that that will please police procedural fans. The motives of the partygoers are fully developed as the audience sees first hand their animosities and desires even before the first corpse is discovered. Paul and Jillian make a fabulous team as their divergent personalities harmoniously clash to the benefit of the reader. The who-done-it is well designed with a wonderful investigation to add to the pleasure. Pressure will be placed on Ms. Lindquist to provide more Manziuk and Ryan investigations.” Under the Covers