Murder on Bearskin Neck: An Annie Quitnot Mystery

When the artist Carlo Valenti is murdered in Rockport, a small New England fishing village and art colony, Annie Quitnot, the local reference librarian, becomes the chief suspect. Annie and Carlo were lovers until five years ago, when Carlo went to Rome to join what he called "the real art world." Carlo returned recently with the nubile young Margo on his arm. Now Carlo lies dead in the morgue. Naturally, the police and the townspeople are convinced that Annie did it. Jealousy is a strong motive, and Annie has no alibi. With the support of the library's sympathetic director, Duncan Langmuir, and Annies brother Justin, who flies in to help after seeing a disheveled Annie on TV news, Annie tries to solve the murder and acquit herself. Even her friends seem to think her guilty-and can she really trust Duncan Langmuir? Justin, to Annie's chagrin, enlists the curmudgeonly Judge Bradley to help clear her. Instead, Annie keeps getting deeper into trouble.

Gunilla Caulfield was born and educated in Stockholm, Sweden, before immigrating to the United States. After ten years as an art dealer in Boston she moved to Rockport, a small fishing town and art colony on Cape Ann, ＂That Other Cape,＂ as they say on Cape Cod. She served as reference librarian at the Rockport Public Library, which is fictionally depicted in her mystery. Along with husband Thomas and a steadily growing clan, she divides her time between Rockport, Massachusetts, and Bridgton, Maine. Other works by the author, soon to be published, include two novels and a collection of short stories. Works in progress for later publication are sequels to ＂Murder on Bearskin Neck,＂ with Annie Quitnot as sleuth, and a book of Christmas stories.