Murder at Spouters Point by Leslie Wheeler

Murder at Spouters Point is the third of Leslie Wheeler's "living history" mysteries featuring her good-natured, but stubborn heroine Miranda Lewis. In it, she blends suspense, romance, and Native American folklore with a dynamic storyline and vivid characterizations; the end result, a truly winning combination. The story advances through the eyes of Miranda as she grapples with feelings of love and frustration for Nate, and their ever-present cultural obstacles.

When Miranda and Nate plan a weekend on the Rhode Island coast to catch up with old friends, things don't go exactly as planned. First, Miranda's close friend Erin's fiancé is murdered and, as if that's not bad enough, Nate's longtime friend Jimmy Swift is the prime suspect. Tension mounts and cultural bias emerges as Miranda begins her own personal investigation while Nate attempts to defend and protect his friend. "He's guilty?" Nate exploded. "You've thought that all along, haven't you? You and the cops. You white people are all the same. Something bad happens, you blame the non-white guy." Since the town's tumultuous history between the Native Americans and the white people is still very prevalent, the local police are only too quick to pin it on Jimmy; and Nate's only to quick to point the finger at Erin's brother Luke. Miranda must find out who the real killer is before they lock up Jimmy for good.

Wheeler's realistic portrayal of her characters really drives the plot to its climactic end! Historian by day, amateur sleuth by night, Miranda Lewis proves to be everything you'd want in a strong, independent heroine as she winds her way through the myriad of suspects to get to the truth. Almost immediately, we are shown a glimpse of the relationship between Miranda and her quick-tempered, Native American boyfriend Nate Barnes. Nate's volatile temper has long been a source of anguish for Miranda. Wheeler writes, "Despite his promise to curb his rage, Nate wasn't going to change. He would always fly off the handle at the slightest provocation."

Murder at Spouters Point is published by Five Star/GALE/Cengage Learning with a release date of October 2010. It is available for purchase through Five Star/GALE/Cengage Learning publishing (ISBN # 978-1-59414-886-6 and price: $25.95), amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and at libraries throughout the country. It can also be ordered through any local bookstore. Check out Leslie Wheeler 's other "living history" mysteries featuring Miranda Lewis in Murder at Gettysburg and Murder at Plimouth Plantation.

Born and raised in Southern California, Leslie now resides in the Boston area with her family. Visit Leslie Wheeler's website at http://www.lesliewheeler.com/.