Shadows of a Down East Summer (Antique Print #5) by Lea Wait

In the summer of 1890, two young women posed for artist Winslow Homer on the coast of Maine. What happened that summer, the secrets the women kept, and the lies they told, changed their families forever. Now, more than a hundred years later, one of their descendants has been murdered, leaving to antique print dealer Maggie Summer the family papers that may finally reveal the truth. Maggie's vision of a relaxing vacation in Maine- antiquing with beau Will Brewer and visiting his Aunt Nettie- turns into a murder investigation. Maggie must discover which of the family myths are based on reality, before someone she cares about becomes the next victim. With the centennial of Homer's death in 2010, there is renewed interest in his work and in the renovation of his studio in Prouts Neck, Maine, where some of the novel's action takes place.   (Summary via Goodreads)




What fun it was to read Shadows of a Down East Summer.... I love when main character Maggie Summer is hanging around with her new love Will Brewer in this series !!  The Antique Print Mystery series follows Maggie while she is a college professor and antique print dealer and all the fun and murders that she stumbles across and this fifth book in the series will have the reader on the edge of their seat....just like when reading the other books in this series.

In Shadows of a Down East Summer Maggie is heading to Maine to spend some time with Will and enjoy some beach and seafood eating time together.  Maine is where Will's Aunt Nettie lives and he goes back there every summer to help her around the house. Maggie and Will figure they can help Aunt Nettie, spend some quality time together and then go to an antiques show at the end of Maggie's visit.  Little did they know that Maggie would end up right in the middle of a murder investigation.....well if you are a fan of this series by Lea Wait, you now that that is exactly where Maggie is going to end up !!

Wait puts an extra twist with this story by bringing in a journal and paperwork from the 1800's linking the town to famous artist Winslow Homer who Maggie is a big fan of his work.  Maggie has a lot on her plate when an old journal is given to her to read then the owner ends up dead and it looks like the killer will stop at nothing to get their hands on it !!!  

I probably say this with all of the books in this series by Wait but it rings true with them all..... These books will have the reader on the edge of their seat holding their breath turning the pages so fast they may end up with a paper cut....So grab a drink and a snack, sit back and maybe, have some band aids near by........



Review by Missi M.