In this classic whodunnit, crime-solving teacher Hildegarde Withers discovers a dead body while on a trip to the New York Aquarium with her third-grade class. For the third graders at Jefferson School, a field trip is always a treat. But one day at the New York Aquarium, they get much more excitement than they bargained for. A pickpocket sprints past, stolen purse in hand, and is making his way to the exit when their teacher, the prim Hildegarde Withers, knocks him down with her umbrella. By the time the police and the security guards finish arguing about what to do with Chicago Lew, he has escaped, and Miss Withers has found something far more interesting: a murdered stockbroker floating in the penguin tank. With the help of Detective Oscar Piper, this no-nonsense spinster embarks on her first of many adventures. The mystery is baffling, the killer dangerous, but for a woman who can control a gaggle of noisy third graders, murder isn’t frightening at all. The Penguin Pool Murder is part of the Hildegarde Withers Mysteries series, which also includes Murder on the Blackboard and Murder on Wheels.
Francesca Stignani Book order (chronological)
Threads in our lives intertwine, affecting everything around us. As children, Sean Devine, Jimmy Marcus, and Dave Boyle were friends until a strange car pulled up their street. One boy got in, two did not, leading to a tragic event that shattered their friendship and altered their lives forever. Twenty-five years later, Sean is a homicide detective, Jimmy is an ex-con running a corner store, and Dave struggles to maintain his marriage while battling inner demons. When Jimmy's daughter is found murdered, Sean is assigned the case, forcing him to confront both present violence and haunting memories from his past. His investigation puts him at odds with Jimmy, whose old criminal instincts tempt him toward brutal justice. Meanwhile, Dave returns home the night of the murder covered in blood, raising suspicions about his involvement. As Sean seeks to restore order through the law, Jimmy's thirst for vengeance pulls him deeper into moral darkness. Celeste, Dave's wife, sleeps beside a man she fears may be a monster, hiding his true nature from everyone, including himself. This tense psychological thriller explores themes of love, loyalty, faith, and the impact of the past, as the characters face their darkest truths.
In un quartiere periferico di Boston, Sean, Jimmy e Dave fanno a botte in mezzo alla strada. Una macchina accosta. A bordo due uomini. Dave sale con loro. E scompare. Per quattro, terribili giorni. Venticinque anni dopo, Dave è accusato di omicidio. La vittima è la figlia di Jimmy. E Sean è l'agente incaricato delle indagini. Per loro è giunto il momento di fare i conti con il passato, e con l'agghiacciante episodio che ha sfregiato le loro anime.