A Place of Fog and Murder

She may have been born Lillian Lucille Turner but prefers to be called “Lou.” Lou is a budding private investigator seeking a foothold in a male-dominated business. Lou is not a novice as she was tutored in sleuthing skills early on. In 1930s San Franciso, Lou is well versed in the big city's good, bad, and ugly. A well-to-do businessman has sought her services in helping locate his missing stepdaughter. Lou is immediately attracted to her client but maintains her professionalism as she dives into the city’s underworld to look for clues. As Lou learns more about the young woman, doubts about her client’s motive begin to gnaw at her. Blackmail and gangsters start to come into Lou’s case but Lou refuses to back down, despite the escalating danger.

A Place of Fog and Murder provides a refreshing take on the detective genre with the main character of Lou Turner. Lou is a dogged inspector who will work a case wherever it leads and will step on toes if she has to. She battles the misogyny of fellow detectives and criminals with a sharp wit and resolution that marks her as a worthy adversary not to be underestimated. The plot proceeds at a good clip, each twist and turn to keep the reader on their toes. Author T.E. MacArthur crafts a noirish mystery filled with femme fatales, crooked cops, and imperfect people co-existing in a world where the future looks uncertain if not dangerous. This is a book with a broad appeal to those who love a great detective story along with an admirable heroine. A real captivating page-turner for fans of thrillers with strong female lead characters.