
The first title in this new mystery series introduces sixtysomething Southerner MacLaren Yarbrough, the new magistrate of Hope County, Georgia, who's appointed to replace her injured husband, Joe Riddley. When a local man is found murdered at Joe's birthday gala, MacLaren tries to sweet-talk clues out of affluent matriarchs, shady drifters, and even a disgruntled parrot. (July)