A Summer for Witches — Miriam Lynch

A long-ago summer came back with that phone call from Floncy, Florence Gilmore had vanished fifteen years ago, the second summer Janet's mother had worked as housekeeper for the actress, Evelyn Gilmore… And yet it had been Floncy -- the husky, vibrant voice brought back vividly and eighteen-year-old girl so beautiful, so full of life, that it was impossible to think of her as dead.

Perhaps that was why Janet Perry knew she must go to Seamount Beach, Floncy had said that she must come alone. She couldn't even ask David to go with her.

At Seamount Beach, Scott Gilmore, four years Floncy's junior, did not at first recognize Janet. And when he did, he scoffed at her saying that Floncy had sent for her. Floncy was dead -- now declared legally dead -- and Floncy could not have called anyone. She must leave at once and not disturb his mother.

But Evelyn Gilmore had heard the bell. And when she learned who had come, it was Evelyn who decided that Janet should spend the night in the small gray cottage. Which she and her mother had occupied fifteen years before.

Janet slept late. And woke knowing that she must get back to town and return David's car. But something was waiting on the doorstep of the gray cottage. Sprawled grotesquely was the body of a man, a knife protruding from his back. Judson Brock, the sheriff said -- and after a time, Janet remembered him. A handyman, Jud had hung around the cottage those two summers, pestering her mother with his attentions.

The scene was set for murder -- with suspicion pointing to Janet. But a bigger mystery to Janet was the call from Floncy. Could this murder be tied with Floncy's disappearance? At all costs, she must solve the riddle. But time was running out…