"Engaging amateur sleuth tale"
A deceased patient, Reebesther Smith, bequests fifty
acres of choice marshland in Southern New Jersey to Dr.
Fenimore with specific stipulations on the care of the land
in its natural habitat. There is also a pirate's treasure
map that provides a path to riches buried on the land. Dr. Fenimore and his able assistant Rat head south to
see what he inherited especially the booty. They stop at
the home of another patient Lynn Ashley, who is the
recipient of some nasty pranks that are a form of subtle
pressure to force the senior citizen to sell her property.
Knowing the treasure is not going anywhere, Dr. Fenimore
begins to investigate who is trying to scare Lynn off her
land. To his surprise the list of individuals and
corporations that could gain with the purchase of Lynn's
acres is large, making it difficult to determine whom the
culprit(s) is. The third Dr. Fenimore tale, THE DOCTOR AND THE DEAD
MAN'S CHEST, pays homage to Stevenson's Treasure Island
though it is set in New Jersey. The story line is fun due
to the strong supporting "good guys" and insightful
references to historical tidbits such as brickwork.
Bringing most of the potential "bad guys" to one party
allows Fenimore easy comparisons, but seems to simple of a
solution. Still the trek into the New Jersey wilderness is
an engaging diversion for those readers who enjoy a non-
metropolitan northeast cozy. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted October 24, 2001
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