My grandmother gave me this book that use to be her mothers when I was just a young teen. This book was the beginning of the love for mysteries and reading. I loved this book and cherish it, it was my very first mystery I every read. Thank you grandma for giving me the love of reading and for sending me on many adventures ... specially with an author like MS (Mabel Seeley). ( )

This was an atmospheric suspense book. There was a lot of tension between the various characters. Each may not have been who they were portraying themselves to be. It was the case of two of the main characters.

Janet Ruell was going on vacation with hopes of having an adventure. Living the dull life of a librarian in a small town in Minnesota, she craved experiencing excitement. When she met up with Steve Corbett and his little boy Cottie Corbett she got more than what she was hoping for. Corbett asked her to come with them to a small lakeside resort and take care of his son. The unusual thing is that she was to act as if she was Corbett's wife and Cottie's mother. She felt that this was her chance for adventure and agreed.

Cottie is a charming little boy and Janet found herself becoming attached to him. Corbett, on the other hand, was a mystery. He went out late at night, locking Janet and Cottie in the cabin they were staying in. What he did and where he went he didn't tell her about. She was a little frightened of him, but there was a little attraction too.

The other visitors staying at the resort were quite an assortment.Edna Rudeen, the Willards, Al Sprung, Hoxie Mueller and the others. All seemed to have something to hide. When Al Sprung is found dead next to the Corbett's cottage the cans of worms start to open up.

Sheriff Boxruud may seem like a back country cop, but there is much more to him and he sees much more than people think.

I took my time reading this. It did not hit me as a fast read, but rather something to work through. To take in the tension and mystery that the author took the trouble to portray. The story kept building to a crescendo with a bang of an ending. It is not my usual, but I do like reading something different periodically. It keeps me from getting into a rut...reading/subject wise. ( )