Act of God — Jeremiah Healy

The arrival of a glorious Boston spring is going unnoticed by the two clients in P.I. John Cuddy's office: a petite, determined widow and a cagey young man, united by a missing girl and a shocking murder. Grief-stricken Pearl Rivkind wants to know if her beloved husband, Abe, was having an affair when someone savagely, inexplicably killed him at his furniture store. William Proft, a sleazy, impassive druggist, wants to locate his sister, Darbra - who worked with Abe until she disappeared while on vacation. The dual case screams conflict of interest, but something in Pearl's grit and vulnerability makes Cuddy want to help.