Lite read about a series of murders in a trailer park in Concord Mass. amid a war between developers and environmentalists. ( )

Splendid. I do so love her Homer Kelly mysteries. ( )

What happens when a group of developers and environmentalists are at odds in Concord, Massachusetts? Residents of a trailer park near Thoreau's Walden Pond begin to die. Having just visited Concord and having re-read several of Thoreau's works including Walden recently, I really connected with this novel. I've not always been a fan of Langton's fiction, but this one kept me interested to the very end. ( )

Jane Langton's Homer Kelly is one part absent-minded professor, one part Doctor Who (sans time travel) and one part...well, Homer Kelly. Suffering from JFS (Jessica Fletcher Syndrome), mystery and death seem to "sniff out" Homer, rather than the other way around.

The story is not just merely about scenic suburban life and the petty trifles of its inhabitants. That provides the narrative façade for an astute commentary regarding the politics of development/city planning, environmentalism and the dangers/benefits of nostalgia.

Langton's characters are vividly multi-dimensional, torn in their allegiances by both heart and mind. The author asks the reader not to pass immediate judgment, suggesting that the potential for villainy resides within us as well, under the right set of circumstances.

I think this is one of Langton's better books in the series. Highly recommended for Thoreau buffs and those readers familiar with Boston/Concord, Massachusetts. ( )

Murders & development in Concord. Fighting against development are the good heroic Thoreauvians, with a young super-rich unassuming man from India joining them; the pro-development forces are evil murderers.