Coffin Road

This is the 2nd book I've read by prolific Scottish author Peter May (see also my post for Black House). He has written several series, but this is among his body of stand-alone novels. The plot for this book, set in the outer Hebrides, is a timely one--the precipitous decline in bee populations around the world. However, we don't know that until we are thoroughly wrapped up in the mysterious protagonist, whose name we aren't sure of, because he has been in a boating accident and lost his memory. People know him as Neal Maclean, a writer delving into the unsolved disappearance of 3 lighthouse keepers from a nearby island over a century ago. He can't remember anything about his life or the people around him, not even the woman in the neighboring cottage with whom he has apparently been having an affair. His dog knows him, but there seem to be no clues to his identity in the cottage he's been renting for the last year and a half. No ID. No e-mails. No pictures. He's told everyone he's writing a book but there's no evidence of this in his computer. All he finds is map of the island highlighting the Coffin Road--an ancient path followed by pall bearers. When someone breaks into his cottage and tries to kill him, the need to recover his identity becomes a mater of life and death.
There are two additional parallel storylines. Teenager Karen Fleming is still trying to come to terms with the apparent suicide of her father 2 years earlier. As she struggles to deal with her mother's plans to move on and remarry, Karen wants to talk to anyone who knew her father. But after she contacts a work colleague of her father's, he dies in an automobile accident--maybe. Karen becomes increasingly convinced that her father's death was not a suicide, and maybe he isn't even dead. Meanwhile DS George Gunn is sent to investigate the murder of a man at the same lighthouse where the keepers disappeared. The stories are connected of course, but you will be led on a totally believable but devious chase to find out how. Part scientific thriller, totally engrossing mystery--well worth the read. Reviews from The Guardian, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly

Accused

Another (12th I think) in the series about the all-woman law firm of Rosato and Associates by Lisa Scottoline. Mary DiNunzio has just been made a partner in the firm, although it still doesn't feel real. In the midst of celebrations, a 13-year-old girl walks into the office asking to interview Mary and Judy to see if she wants to hire them. She has just come into money from a trust and can now use the money to find out who really killed her older sister, Fiona, six years ago. Allegra Gardner is genius level IQ which means she is a bit of a social outcast--she loves beekeeping, not the most usual or social of hobbies. Her parents, especially her father, are dead set against re-opening the investigation since a man was already convicted and sent to prison. Allegra claims he was falsely imprisoned, that in fact her sister was secretly dating Lonnie, the convicted man. Things spiral out of control when the parents stonewall Mary and Judy and put Allegra in a psychiatric facility. Mary is determined to continue, but Judy backs off, so Mary is left to her own devices to figure out who really murdered Fiona. She is convinced it is the ex-boyfriend but finds out differently when the killer comes after her. There is the usual cast of supporting characters--Mary's family and the Tony's, as well as her live-in boyfriend who has just proposed--all colorfully depicted with their south Philly quirks. Nothing terribly compelling here, but a satisfying read and a good book if one likes strong, imperfect, and engaging women characters.