Labor Day Murder

by Lee Harris

Book Overview

MURDER BURNS ON FIRE ISLAND Island old-timers are stunned by the shooting death of Blue Harbor's popular fire chief, followed by the mysterious torching of his house. Rumors soon begin to flare up... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0449150178
• ISBN13: 9780449150177
• Release Date: June 1998
• Publisher: Fawcett Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.1" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Vacation venue + Chris Bennett/Lee Harris = crowd pleaser!

In her tenth outing, Lee Harris gives us amateur sleuth, ex-nun Chris Bennett on vacation with husband Jack and 9-month old baby Eddie, on Fire Island, New York, over Labor Day. The action takes place in the little pedestrian-only town of Blue Harbor, where friend Melanie Gross has a house for two weeks her family suddenly can't use. At first, we get a lot of vivid and interesting descriptions of this unusual setting, a narrow, 32-mile island off the shore of Long Island. The vacation house is lovely, the town almost utopian, and a good time is unfolding for all. Alas, a fire burns down the fire chief's house, killing him in the process, soon ruled a murder. Chris sees a young woman hurrying away from the scene, which is all it takes to get her off and running to solve both this crime, and ultimately, one that took place many years earlier (her specialty). The remainder of the plot is the quizzing and interviewing and visiting of countless residents and suspects until all becomes clear near the end. Another murder mid-way through keeps up the suspense, and a mysterious lady lawyer adds more intrigue as the investigations proceed. Our only quibble might be that the perpetrator ultimately spills the beans just a little too voluntarily for real life. In sum, "Labor Day" is a fairly typical Harris outing - enjoyable, pleasant, and puzzling enough to entertain in much the same fashion as the nine books preceding it.If Harris has one thing going for her, it's dependability. Her plots have enough action to sustain the story but not enough to tire or overly tax the brain. We get to know the Bennett family more intimately as time passes, and are watching the baby develop before our eyes (wonder if Lee is a new grandmother?!). There's little to criticize, though some might also say, little to get overly excited about - just a nice clean three-or-four hour read from an author and her leading lady with whom we consistently relax and enjoy. OK?

Another Holiday....Another Murder

Poor Chris Bennett! She just can't get away from dead bodies! Even when she, her husband Jack and baby Eddie get the rare privilege of spending two glorious weeks in a beautiful beach front house on Fire Island, in the pretty little community of Blue Harbor, they are thrust squarely into the middle of a grisly murder. Handsome and popular Ken Buckley is the town's Fire Chief. But when he ends up dead, in bed, in his own burning house, during the Labor Day picnic sponsored by the fire department, it's no accident, it's murder! Chris begins to ask questions and uncovers some information that could help solve this mystery. But some people have secrets to hide and may go to dangerous links to ensure that Christine does not find out the truth. As usual, Lee Harris has fashioned a tightly plotted puzzler that is plausible without being plodding. Christine and Jack are written as real people, with real foibles, strengths and flaws. I really enjoy this series. This one earned 5 stars from me.

Great book for the beach!

Lee Harris has done it again with another mystery for ex-nun Christine Bennett. You can almost smell the salt air, feel the breeze on your face, and hear the seagulls as the action unfolds! When a philandering fire chief is murdered in his own bed during the biggest parade of the season on Fire Island, Christine proceeds to investigate and uncovers yet more unsolved crimes before the solution is revealed!

Another great book, by the master of mystery!

Lee Harris has done it again! This had to have been one of the best holiday murder books yet. Keep the great writing work up Lee! I wish Lee would write some more holiday books faster than about 2 books a year. They're great!

Another fine book from Lee Harris...

I thought the New Year's Day Murder wasn't quite up to the Lee Harris standard I was used to, but The Labor Day Murder is just great. Chris, Jack and Eddie are on vacation, and of course, stumble upon a murder; is it related to an incident of 15 years ago? Harris writes so well, Chris is a wonderful character, the descriptions of the town of Blue Harbor are charming and Sister Joseph helps put everything in perspective. I want more Holiday Murders from Lee Harris!!!