When the body of Horst Refn, the Artistic Director of the Nantucket Theater Lab whose main claim to fame might be 'most despicable man about town,' was found stuffed in his basement freezer, no one was particularly surprised. In fact, the suspects nearly had to take a number at police headquarters. Police Chief Henry Kennis is acquainted with him because Henry’s girlfriend, a successful mystery writer, is active in the arts community. She, in fact, is one of the many suspects because she is identified by a local resident as running from the scene of the crime ... Nantucket Counterfeit, the fifth installment in Steven Axelrod’s delightful series, is a tasty little cozy, delivered with humor and witty dialogue, and featuring a beguiling cast of characters. Even if you've never been involved in little theater, you will be entertained as Henry tries to sort out 'Who Dun It' from the clues that pile up like flotsam and jetsam after high tide.
The Theatre Lab’s current production is a murder mystery whose plot uncomfortably echoes real life. Just when Kennis thinks he’s discovered the killer, new information pops up that proves him wrong. Hacking his way through a tangle of conflicting stories is a tough job, but the introspective detective is up to the task. The fifth in Axelrod’s clever series casts a cynical eye on Nantucket’s decidedly diverse denizens. Only the most careful readers, undistracted by his satire, will figure out whodunit.
Fans of traditional mysteries will welcome Axelrod’s entertaining fifth outing for Nantucket police chief Henry Kennis ... The narrative flows along at a good clip, with eddies of philosophy and humor. The witty dialogue perfectly matches the multifaceted characters. That Henry believes in an 'old school low-tech version of police work' allows the reader to readily follow the clues. Those fond of CSI gadgetry will have to look elsewhere.
