Book Talk: Charlie Donlea, ‘Summit Lake’

Penn Courtney, editor of Events magazine, believes that Kelsey Castle has returned to work too soon after her ordeal. But, having had a month of healing, Kelsey asserts that she’s ready. After a bit of arguing, Penn submits to Kelsey’s judgment and assigns her to write a story about Summit Lake, a job that Kelsey initially dismisses as a “fluff” piece about a small mountain community where the center of activity is Millie’s Coffee House.

However, Kelsey’s interest is sparked when she learns that a young woman has been killed, and the police are not releasing any details of the murder. By the time that Kelsey arrives in the quaint mountain resort, the town is crawling with state cops, who have relieved Stan Ferguson, commander of the local police force. Kelsey immediately realizes that something big is going on, details of the murder are being covered up, and even the autopsy report will not be made available. Kelsey is no longer after a simple story for the magazine; she on a search for truth.

Charlie Donlea’s “Summit Lake” (2016, 313 pages in softcover format) provides a serene background for a heinous crime, a powerful family that is using its resources to keep nearly every aspect of the murder secret, and a somewhat damaged reporter who will not be deterred from the kind of investigation that is not on the agenda of the state police. In fact, Commander Stan Ferguson is so cut out of the picture, that he decides to retire. But not until he gives Kelsey what little he knows about the case.