Agony Hill by Sarah Stewart Taylor
8/6/24; 320 pages
St. Martin's Press
Frank Warren #1
Agony Hill by Sarah Stewart Taylor is a highly recommended mystery set in rural Vermont during
1965. This is the first book in a new historical mystery series
featuring Frank Warren. In 1965 the winds of change are blowing across
the rural state of
Vermont as a new interstate highway is under construction which will
bring new people
and opportunities to the area. This is also a time of protests against
the war in Vietnam and the Cold War.
Franklin Warren arrives in Bethany, Vermont, after accepting a position as a
detective with the state police, and immediately called up to investigate a death in a barn fire
along with help from Trooper Goodrich. By
all appearances it is a death by suicide where Hugh Weber set fire to
his
barn and himself, with the door barred from the inside. There was a
similar case where a farmer immolated himself in his barn protesting the
interstate highway. Warren has his doubts that this is a copy cat case
because Weber was so disliked in the area.
Sylvie Weber is left a young widow with four boys and is also pregnant, seems reticent and self-contained.
The excellent writing captures the
atmosphere of New England during this time in history while introducing
us to the fully realized characters. All of the characters in this novel
come to life along with the setting. Both Warren and Alice are
exceptionally well written. There is a large cast of characters readers
will be introduced and all of them add something to the atmosphere of
the novel.
The plot is full of intrigue while being
intricate and nuanced as the investigation unfolds in a slow, even pace.
The numerous details do slow down the pace, but add to the rich
experience reading Agony Hill. All of the details will likely
serve readers well in future installments of this new series. I'll be
looking forward to the next novel featuring Warren and Alice in Bethany,
Vermont. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an
advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and
expresses my honest opinion.
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