Death in the Offing

Death in the Offing by D.E. Ring is the second book in the Urquhart & MacDonald Murder Mysteries, a perfect read for fans of murder mystery.

Inspector Jimmy Urquhart and Sandy (Notepad) MacDonald are the new couple in town and they head to Manhattan for their honeymoon. Jimmy is worried about Sandy's familiarity not only with the city but with some of the well-known people. They go back to Barrachois for the final week of their honeymoon as guests to the opening of a new hotel. It is a private event and Jimmy and Notepad are making the best of it until a blizzard blocks the road, cutting off power and other forms of communication. The fun is ended when a body of a woman is found, sitting in a chair in her room, with snow on her bare foot. Will she be the last and who is behind the murder?

The story begins with the preparations of the wedding and introduces readers to the key characters and the setting. The circle of friends of Jimmy and Notepad are beautifully explored. Then comes the mystery and the many questions related to the deaths. It is a heady, gripping, and page-turning story that is written in exquisite prose and that features engaging dialogues. I loved the drama, the gorgeously written characters, and the mystery that transforms the story into a propulsive tale. Death in the Offing is the perfect meld of a thrilling detective story and an unforgettable narrative with sophisticated characters, and Ring’s descriptions are detailed capturing elements of the setting as well as the inner worlds of the characters with clarity.