Books like Midsummer murder by Shelley Freydont

When Lindy Haggerty is invited to teach at the Easton Arts Retreat’s 50th‑anniversary celebration, she expects a season of dance and camaraderie. The retreat, a grand upstate‑New York mansion, is a celebrated hub for summer dancing. But the festivities unravel when Larry Cleveland, a rough‑around‑edges scholarship student, is found dead at the base of a nearby cliff. Officially ruled an accident, the sheriff—who harbors a grudge against the retreat—seeks to use the tragedy to tarnish its name and open the land for urban development. Assuming the role of a woman private investigator, Lindy must chase clues, confront jealous dancers, and expose a killer before she herself becomes a target. Her discovery is profound: the murder is not accidental; betrayal, hidden desires, and fractured friendships simmer beneath the glitter of choreography. Confronting both the clandestine world of dance politics and a relentless killer, Lindy fights to keep the retreat’s legacy intact—and her own life.

First publish date: 2001