About the book: When divers bring up a well-dressed corpse from the Brook Hollow Community Pond, fear grips the residents of the upscale exurban enclave — mostly Boomers at mid-life. They hold an emergency gathering in the fellowship hall of an Ashton church. It takes the creative mind of Matt Hapgood (one of the community's few elders), plus the derring-do of a younger neighbor and friend, to discern a meticulously planned kidnap/murder plot, but in time?
(In the Prime of Death, 391 pages, paperback. $14.95)
2. About the author: A career journalist, writer, and editor, Born worked 25 years for three Dow Jones publications in Washington, D.C. — The Wall Street Journal, The National Observer, and Barron's. He lived in Brinklow, Md., before moving to the Fairhaven retirement community in Sykesville, Md. Of his non-fiction book, The Suspended Sentence: A Guide for Writers (Scribner's), The Christian Science Monitor said it had "earned its place next to Fowler on the short shelf of classics for writers." Of his mystery novel, commenters online found Prime to be "intricately plotted" and "an absorbing narrative," with "twists and turns" and "a palpable sense" of its setting. "Very clever, this author."
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3. About the shop: Called "a browser's delight," The Cricket Book Shop has provided its Montgomery County community with a selection of new books, adult and young adult books, and children's books since 1969. It also offers a unique collection of choice gifts. The Cricket is located at 17800 New Hampshire Ave., Ashton MD 20861. To speak to one of its proprietors, call Sharon Evans at 301-774-4242. Or email Cricketbookshop@yahoo.com.
