Where It Lies-K.J. Egan

Where It Lies
K.J. Egan
Minotaur, May 12 2009, $24.95
ISBN: 9780312538880

Single mom of a moody teen Sam, Jenny Chase works as assistant golf pro at the Harbor Terrace Country Club in Poningo, N.Y. She arrives at the course only to be greeted by a horrific site at the cart barn; groundskeeper Rick Gilbert is hanging on a rafter. In spite of being unnerved, Jenny surprisingly stays calm and playing at the nearby Westchester Country Club wins a Women's U.S. Open qualifying tournament that same day.

The police led by Detective George Donahue and youth officer Nick Cirillo rule suicide, which means Rick’s widow is ineligible to collect on his life insurance. Jenny cannot believe the official decision, feeling some remorse as Rick called her five times that night, and wanting to help his widow Kit and her autistic son Quint, investigates the death. Meanwhile, Sam gets in trouble with the law for petty theft requiring a lawyer and jeopardizing her custody; still Jenny reluctantly calls her former spouse to help their son with his legal problems.

This is a well written amateur sleuth sports mystery starring a strong support cast and a super lead protagonist. The story line plays fast on and off the greens. Fans will root for Jenny as K.J. Egan easily breaks par with this engaging golf murder mystery.

Harriet Klausner