Ben Abbott Mysteries by Justin Scott
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Newbury
Mausoleum
When a gaudy, half-million-dollar mausoleum invades the 300-year-old village cemetery in Newbury, Connecticut, realtor Ben Abbott is not happy.
Newcomer Brian Grose's tall, wide, mirror-polished eruption of eternal ego sticks out in the peaceful burying ground like a McMansion in an apple orchard. Ben's fellow drinkers at the bar have nicknamed the monstrosity, "McTomb." But no one expected to find Brian's body locked in his mausoleum, 50 years ahead of schedule.
Then Homeland Security Immigration Criminal Enforcement agents (ICE) descend on Newbury hunting for Charlie Cubrero, an illegal immigrant farm hand-and supposed gang leader-who bought a gun after he was stiffed for 50 bucks by Brian Grose.
Ben Abbott doesn't buy it. Half the town was in the graveyard celebrating Newbury's tercentennial when Brian was shot and most of them were mad at him. Besides, Ben admires the hard-working Charlie. And he fears that the news that the illegal worked for the Village Cemetery Association will destroy the venerable society already torn asunder by suing and countersuing anti-mausoleum traditionalists and pro-mausoleum insurgents.
Wry, witty and garnished with sharply observed local color: Scott at his best.
- Kirkus Review