Death at breakfast

Indulging their pleasure in travel and new experiences, recently retired private school head Maggie Detweiler and her old friend, socialite Hope Babbin, are heading to Maine. Hope and Maggie have barely finished their first aperitifs when the inns tranquility is shattered by the arrival of Alexander and Lisa Antippas and Lisas actress sister, Glory. Imperious and rude, these Hollywood one-percenters quickly turn the inn upside-down with their demanding behavior, igniting a flurry of speculation and gossip among staff and guests alike. After a suspicious late-night fire is brought under control, Alexs charred body is found in the ashes. Enter the towns deputy sheriff, Buster Babbin, Hopes long-estranged son and Maggies former student. Feeling that justice could use a helping hand--as could the deputy sheriffMaggie and Hope decide that two women of experience equipped with healthy curiosity, plenty of common sense, and a cheerfully cynical sense of humor have a useful role to play in uncovering the truth.

Beyond its central premise, the book can be read through the connected lenses of Fiction. Those themes offer useful points of attention as the characters, ideas, or world develop, especially where the book complicates the expectations of its primary category.