The Body Falls by Andrea Carter

THE BODY FALLS by Andrea Carter is number five in the Inishowen mystery series featuring Benedicta (Ben) O’Keeffe, a young female solicitor who practices in County Donegal, Ireland. Like others in the series, this can be read as a stand-alone, although there are some references to past adventures and complicated relationships. I originally heard about this title on a Booklist Webinar and enjoyed meeting Ben; her sometimes boyfriend and local policeman, Molloy; her friend and bookshop owner, Phyllis; and many other local residents. As the story opens, Ben is coming back to Ireland from a six month sabbatical in Florida and she returns just in time for a charity cycling race and some massive amounts of rain. Initially, it is a bit of slow going as the weather postpones the race and subsequent flooding and bridge closures cut off the town. This gives Ben a more opportunity to interact with the cyclists and once enough background has been provided about them and the local townspeople, the mystery deepens with a surprising death and the pace really picks up. Filled with extraneous detail, THE BODY FALLS has more than enough red herrings and twisty coincidences to provide a truly puzzling mystery, all amidst a beautiful, rural setting.