• Front cover view of Last Lessons of Summer by Margaret Maron centered on a neutral light gray background. Creasing is present along the spine edge.
  • Back cover view of Last Lessons of Summer by Margaret Maron centered on a neutral light gray background. Creasing is present along the spine edge.
  • Close-up spine view of Last Lessons of Summer by Margaret Maron centered on a neutral light gray background. Spine shows creasing. Minor chip at the top corner of the spine. Pages lay flat.
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Cozy Mystery and Family Saga

Last Lessons of Summer by Margaret Maron

Last Lessons of Summer by Margaret Maron

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A Southern Gothic Cold Case Mystery of Inherited Secrets, Family Feuds, and a Decades-Old Murder

When her formidable grandmother Eva dies, high-powered New York heiress Amy Steadman returns to her family's sprawling estate in the tobacco country of North Carolina. Sorting through the matriarch's vast estate and private journals, Amy finally has the freedom to dig into the tragic mystery that destroyed her youth: the unsolved 1972 murder of her mother, Calla.

As Amy uncovers secret diaries, hidden financial ties, and long-buried rivalries among her prominent Southern relatives, she realizes her grandmother intentionally shielded a killer to protect the family name. Confronting a web of small-town hypocrisy and dark secrets, Amy’s relentless search for the truth puts her directly in the crosshairs of a murderer who thought their crime was buried forever.

Why You’ll Love This Book

Edgar and Agatha Award-winner Margaret Maron delivers a masterclass in atmospheric Southern gothic mystery. Shifting seamlessly between the gilded present and the social upheaval of the 1970s South, this slow-burn standalone combines rich character development, cold-case detective work, and deep family drama—ideal for fans of Sharyn McCrumb, Carolyn Hart, and Laura Lippman.

Book Details

ISBN: 9780446614221

Binding: Mass market paperback

Pub Date:

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Pages: 368

Author:

  • Margaret Maron

Language: English

Curator's Note:

Maron captures the humid, heavy atmosphere of North Carolina while unravelling a legacy of betrayal. The story moves past the inheritance trope to focus on the long-term damage of hidden family truths and the complexity of Southern social ties. It is a rewarding pick for readers who enjoy mysteries where the setting is as thick and evocative as the plot.

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