Murder on the Bluffs

As a bitter controversy rages over a secretive local land trust in her small New England town, linguistics professor Lauren Rousseau is not wholly surprised when she stumbles upon the dead body of one of the trust’s key members, his throat neatly slit from ear to ear. The only question is which of the many potential suspects is capable of so violent an act. But then the bluffs where she discovered the victim yield a shocking clue, one that may lead to the killer—and may be tied to her own father’s mysterious disappearance more than a decade before. 

As Lauren begins looking for answers to both mysteries among her fellow townspeople and even members of her own family, long-hidden secrets begin to emerge about the victim’s volatile sister, corruption at the heart of the land trust, and even about her father’s life. And as surprising revelations begin to mount, along with threats to her own life, Lauren knows she must pursue the cases to the very end—no matter how disturbing the solutions may be . . .

This book was originally published as Bluffing Is Murder under the name Tace Baker.

Praise for Murder on the Bluffs:

“[Maxwell] has a genuine knack for spinning a deftly crafted mystery that will keep the reader’s total attention from beginning to end.” —Julie Simmons, Midwest Book Review

“In this page-turner of a mystery, linguistics professor Lauren Rousseau uses her smarts, her Quaker faith, and her summer vacation to bring a vicious murderer—and a secret from her own past—into the light.” —Barbara Ross, Agatha-nominated author of the Maine Clambake Mysteries

“Starts with a bang and doesn’t let up!” —Philip Gulley, author of the Harmony and Hope series

“This is a smooth read with a lovely setting, appealing characters, lots of satisfying plot tangles, and a deep secret from Lauren’s past to keep you turning these pages.” — Agatha Award-nominated author Kaye George