Mysterious Incidents at Lone Rock

Title: MYSTERIOUS INCIDENTS AT LONE ROCK
Author: Rajendra Pillai
Publisher: Heartsong Presents Mysteries
March 2008
ISBN: 978-1-59789-490-6
Genre: Inspirational/cozy mystery

Professor Rich Harrison is looking forward to a relaxing weekend at Lone Rock, an estate owned by Rich’s female boss. Rich has been harboring some romantic feelings for Roberta, so he is hoping that this weekend will give them some time alone together to talk. Rich brings along is friend and colleague from India, detective Chinni Roy.

Roberta has invited several guests, and in the wee hours of the morning the first night everyone is there, a shot rings out, and an Englishman is murdered. His wife is found holding the murder weapon. It seems like a cut and dried case—but things are not always as simple as they appear.

The police come out and with Chinni’s help interview each of the guests. Rich learns a few lessons about sleuthing from his detective friend, using algebraic formulas. Who will find the murderer first? The police, or Chinni?

MYSTERIOUS INCIDENTS AT LONE ROCK is the first Heartsong Presents Mystery I’ve read. At first I wasn’t real impressed. The first three chapters seemed to drag. However, by the time I made it through the fourth chapter I was hooked and I had to find out who-dun-it. All the characters seemed to have secrets that they wouldn’t tell—so they all appeared guilty.

I guessed early who might have done it, but I guessed wrong. MYSTERIOUS INCIDENTS AT LONE ROCK reminds me a lot of the popular children’s game, Clue, where characters move around the board. Only thing is, we know the murder weapon, we know where the murder was committed, but we don’t know who did it.

The characters were all realistic developed and the faith message is expertly woven in. I thoroughly enjoyed MYSTERIOUS INCIDENTS AT LONE ROCK and would read more by this author. If you like cozy mysteries, don’t miss this book. $6.95. 248 pages.