From Publishers Weekly
The latest installment in the Jenny Cain series finds the foundation director enmeshed in small-town politics as an environmental controversy leads to murder. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Pickard's latest features her popular heroine, Jenny Cain, whose skill at running small-town foundations is matched only by her abilities as an amateur sleuth. The ever-agile Jenny is currently juggling the first ever Port Frederick Fall Festival and the request of her friend Nellie Kennedy, who wants help in getting rid of "God's Highway," a controversial hiking/bike path. Lately, a series of fatal accidents on the path has caused the town to look at closing it, a move environmentalists, hikers, and bikers vehemently oppose. A mysterious fire, strange goings-on in the town, and murder prove almost too much for the intrepid Jenny--especially after she's assaulted, threatened, run down, and reviled--but with the help of her policeman husband, Geof, and his adopted son, David, she unravels the complicated, intertwined assortment of mysteries and makes sure the Port Frederick Fall Festival is a roaring success. A nicely paced, nicely plotted mystery that makes a perfect read for a chilly fall evening. Emily Melton

ANNOTATION

In this mysterious tale the fortunes of Port Frederick, Massachusettts, are riding on the upcoming Autumn Festival, sponsored by the Judy Foundation, founder and director, Jenny Cain. As if running the fair wasn't enough, Jenny's life and her own fortunes become much more complicated when she is swept into a long-running, deadly controversy which, to her horror, threatens disaster for those she holds dear.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Set amid the coziest of New England traditions, a festival on the town common, Twilight drives deep into the darkness of the loves, fears, and hatreds that motivate us all - sometimes even to murder. The fortunes of the Port Frederick, Massachusetts, community are riding on the upcoming Autumn Festival, sponsored by The Judy Foundation: founder and director, Jenny Cain. As if running a fair on Halloween weekend for almost 15,000 people isn't enough of a challenge, Jenny's life and her own fortunes become much more complicated when a newly widowed young woman, Melissa Barney, walks into her office.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

As in her previous nine adventures (most recently, Confession), foundation director Jenny Cain combines can-do toughness and a tender heart. She needs both when trouble stalks a fall festival she's staging in her hometown of Port Frederick, Mass. An insurance company stalls on providing coverage; environmental activists accuse Jenny of trying to close their beloved nature trail, where three ``accidental'' deaths have occurred; and Christian fundamentalists picket the festival's Halloween theme. One protester dies when apparent arson destroys a local landmark. Villains abound, including a nasty drunk who assaults Jenny, a wealthy civic leader and a local reporter/environmental zealot. Jenny needs help from her police lieutenant husband, Geof, a troubled teenager and a delivery woman who reads rune stones. Readers have only their trust in Pickard and a prologue (in which an automobile accident occurs) as assurances that the disparate plot lines will converge-which they do, revealing surprising connections. Jenny's telling observations on love and marriage, family and friendships and small-town politics add texture to this well-wrought puzzle. (Oct.)

BookList - Emily Melton