Murder in Shangrila: A Small Town Murder Mystery - Tapa blanda

Elden was just a peaceful, rural town until big money showed up. Shangrila, a large resort complex, is built in the hills behind the village. The resort draws many rich folks from the surrounding countryside but also local citizens who feel lucky to find work there. But with the arrival of luxury comes the arrival of death.

A woman is found strangled to death, followed soon after by a second shocking murder. The authorities are stumped, and the small community begins to turn on itself. The townspeople of Elden start behaving in a suspicious manner, especially those with well-kept secrets that an investigation might expose, and the cops are questioning everyone.

There doesn't appear to be a discernable motive, but the resort must be involved-at least that's a good guess. Yet, as secrets are unveiled and more clues come to light, it seems as though the murder victims were mere collateral damage and not the intended targets at all. With eyes everywhere, not much goes unnoticed, as this small town is turned upside-down.

Louise A. Marasso is originally from Santa Barbara, California, and now lives with her husband in Greenwich, Connecticut. This is her first novel.