Some days can be more “exciting” than others. Daddies and mommies can be doing what needs to be done when out of nowhere an emergency happens. This emergency can be realizing you need something at the store. It can also be something a little more “exciting” like having to take your child to the doctor.
Sometimes, these emergencies can be taken care of in a day or less. Other times it will be a little longer. No matter what, these problems inconvenience you and requires more time and energy. Daddies and mommies have just enough energy for the fun we already have. We don’t need any more.
Unfortunately, we have problems that come up and need us to attend to it. Sometimes a family member will die, and a relative must tie up loose ends and handle the estate. Again, there are unpleasant, uncomfortable things that take us away from our jobs and daily life. When this happens, we have no choice but to find a way to deal with it and see it through.
“Murder at Maplewood Inn”
Nora Bardin has another book about Isabel Fleming. Isabel is a woman who is trying to plan a wedding and attend her full-time job when she learns of her Aunt Louise’s passing. Louise has left everything to Isabel, including her bookstore, “Turning the Tides”. Isabel must put everything on hold to handle her aunt’s estate. She takes her pet cat Mimi with her to handle the affairs.
Isabel and Mimi are together on the road trip when a snowstorm starts and state police make cars take a detour. The two girls are on the back roads when Isabel’s car starts to have trouble. Isabel finds a gas station, but the mechanic won’t be able to fix it right away. Luckily, the Maplewood Inn isn’t far from the garage. Isabel and Mimi will be able to stay there and wait out the storm.
Isabel and Mimi get a ride from the mechanic. When Isabel tries to check in for the night, the “pleasant” woman behind the desk informs her pets are not allowed. Isabel is able to convince the woman, Elanor, to let the cat stay as long as she doesn’t leave the room.
Remember what I said about things coming up? It happens all the time. I don’t know if you’ve inherited a store in the middle of wedding-planning, but here is a scenario a lot of people can relate too, especially car trouble. The inconveniences in life somehow manage to hang on for longer than originally thought. When Elanor makes an announcement at breakfast that the storm isn’t letting up and guest are advised to remain inside, Isabel and the rest of the guests are confined to the inn for another day.
Isabel tries to make the most of it, but it’s not easy. The guests include a preoccupied businesswoman who is trying to close a deal and a frustrated author who wants to be left alone. There is also a retired detective who doesn’t like Elanor. I’m not sure anyone does. In fact, someone kills Elanor. If Isabel or anyone else thought they were going to get out of the inn anytime soon, a murder is going to delay that until police can come and investigate.
Where are the Police?
The police won’t be arriving for a while due to the storm. Harold, the retired detective, takes the lead in assessing the situation and advising everyone on what needs to be done. Everyone is a suspect, bringing uneasy looks on people’s faces.
There has already been mounting tensions and a little bit of paranoia. Guests have been confiding in Isabel (gossiping). As much as Isabel would like to help solve a murder and get to Turning the Tides, she is stuck with the rest of the guests. She tries to investigate on her own, but she needs to be careful. Isabel is being watched, followed. Everywhere she goes, she needs to be aware of her surroundings.
Nerves are raw as the storm refuses to let up. Pretended civility gives way to open suspicion. Accusations are made. A cozy inn turns into a prison where its inhabitants are wary of each other. There is killer among them, but who is it?
“Murder at Maplewood Inn” takes a cozy New England inn and turns it into a prison. People who wanted to get away for a little while are trapped by a Nor’easter and suspected of being a murderer. Through it all, Isabel manages to remain calm and help bring the killer to justice. Of course, when the murder is solved, she still needs to go to the bookstore, now her bookstore. And there is also a wedding she needs to plan.
Life isn’t Always Easy
Daddies and mommies have just enough energy for the fun we already have. We don’t need any more.
Life is busy enough without the surprises it throws at us. It’s important to be as ready as we can be so when they arise, we can face them. School is starting up soon, which means it’s back to making sure our children are in a routine and getting done what they need to. Taking care of the small problems will make it easier when the bigger problems show up. It’s not always easy dealing with life. Sometimes, all you can do is take what it gives you and do your best. That’s all we can teach our children. Hopefully, if things get hard enough, they will come to us and ask for help.
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