COW ON THE ICE

The cheating husband of a woman with dementia is murdered overseas in Gibbens’ mystery sequel.

Artist Lucy Gillespie has recovered from the traumatic events of L'Orté Point (2022) and has traveled to Paris. There, she and her husband, Kent, enjoy themselves as they indulge in art and other diversions of France. Meanwhile, Matthew Gilbert Espie, who’s housesitting at their home in Toronto, is being unfaithful to his wife, Astrid Carlsson. Matthew's girlfriend, Chloé, works with Nathan Bellamy, a con man in Paris who’s trying to trick people into buying his fraudulent paintings—including Lucy and Kent. Chloé leaves Paris for Canada; shortly thereafter, Matthew is mysteriously shot dead. Soon, she’s face to face with Matthew’s wife, who notes, “So, we are the two Mrs. Espies.” Astrid is the CEO of Nanovo Group, a pharmaceutical research company that specializes in dementia. Astrid herself has the disease and is trying to keep control of her life with her trusted friends and colleagues Lilly von Euler, who’s being groomed to be Astrid’s successor, and Juji Abebe, Astrid’s lawyer and personal assistant. After someone poisons Astrid, she works with Lilly and Juji to figure out who did it and why. Back in Paris, Lucy grows suspicious of Nathan’s involvement with her friend and agent and gallery owner Yoichi Song. Gibbens once again delivers an engaging mystery, returning to the dynamic character of Lucy Gillespie with a whodunit that offers bigger twists and more compelling villains. Astrid and her friends Lilly and Juji are intriguing new players who bring a challenging new mystery into Lucy’s life. The characters feel like real people, and the story that surrounds them is immersive and suspenseful throughout. The two distinct storylines initially feel jarring and estranged from each other, but this is remedied as the tale goes on. The characters eventually complement one another well, and they bring the work to a satisfying conclusion.

A fine puzzler that’s sure to please returning readers of this series.