Phoebe Fairfax is a videographer who works 2 days a week for a lifestyle show in Calgary which pays the bills so she can continue to make short nature films. She lives southwest of Calgary on an acreage that used to belong to her uncle and it is around there that she does most of her film work. For the lifestyle show she is also close to home at a spa ranch that caters to the wealthy. It is a little disconcerting for Phoebe to be at The Ranch since when she was last there she discovered a body in the pool. The woman apparently committed suicide by taking pills and booze and then getting into the pool where she drowned. Except some people don't think she committed suicide; they think she was murdered. And that theory gains more credence when another body shows up that was definitely murdered because a sashimi chef's knife was thrust into his chest. The sashimi chef is a friend of Phoebe's and she knows he could not have been the one who did this. So who is the murderer?

There's lots of great description about the countryside which is a beautiful part of the country. There is also some interesting detail about cameras and film and videos. I had never really thought about the difference between a film and a video until I read this book. ( )

From the back cover: "When Phoebe Fairfax, camera person for the weekly "Day in the Lifestyle" program, discovers the lifeless body of Janet Benedict floating in the swimming pool at The Ranch, it is listed as suicide. But when a second body is found, with a handmade sashimi knife through the heart, she begins to wonder.
Someone behind the wrought iron gates of this exclusive health spa nestled in the Rocky Mountain foothills is a murderer.
Could it be Candi Sinclair, the seemingly innocent television interviewer with the 500 watt smile? Or Cowboy Byron with the broad shoulders and slim hips? Ben Sugamoto, who knew his catering services were about to be cancelled, or another of the many eccentric and delightful characters you'll meet in this witty comedy of manners."

It's funny and light-hearted, and the setting is interesting, but the characters are not deeply portrayed. A not-bad start to a series. ( )