I read Lea Wait’s first title in her Antique Print Mystery series and felt a bit lukewarm about the book. I thought I would try another title. SHADOWS ON A CAPE COD WEDDING did not impress me at all.
I didn’t really warm up to the characters at all, especially the main character of Maggie Summer. Maggie is extremely irritating to me. She is so nosey, arrogant and selfish. She has no connection to the town, its inhabitants, the murder victim or his relatives. Maggie would risk/jeopardize the wedding preparations of her friend, Gussie, her safety and her relationship with her boyfriend/fiancé, Will, in order to - What? - poke her nose into situations that don’t affect her? The situations were so unrealistic - popping unannounced into the police chief’s house and questioning his wife? meeting with teenage boys in a pizza parlor during a hurricane where they reveal the source for illegal drugs in the town? Totally, absolutely, unrealistic and demeaning to me as a reader.
Maggie Summer isn’t being ‘nice’ or helpful. She is being a rude snoop and gossipmonger.
I also find it unrealistic to think that a college professor could nonchalantly take off 10 to 14 days of prime instructional time to help a friend prepare for a wedding.
To top it all off, Maggie constantly whines about adopting a baby even though the adoption will alienate her from her fiancé. She can’t understand why Will thinks she is selfish.
Maggie Summer is an obnoxious main character. I do not like her one bit.
The mystery was not fleshed out at all. It was very lightweight and a bit confusing. I had no reason to care about any of the characters.
I didn’t get any sense of being on Cape Cod. My ‘sense of place’ meter had a very low reading.
The only redeeming value in this title is the chapter introductions. Each chapter begins with a description of an antique print.

I like this Maine author and want to support her, but this particular title rates a very low recommendation. Perhaps additional titles in the series are better, but I don’t know if I have the interest or stamina to try them. Ms. Wait’s main character needs a personality makeover. ( )