Newspaper publisher Emma Lord investigates the murder of a well liked citizen of Alpine, Washington, whose wife and son have a negative reputation in the community.

Members of the Burl Creek Thimble Club, a quilting circle in small-town Alpine, Washington, are planning a fete to welcome back Genevieve Bayard, who left Alpine, decades ago. But Gen's homecoming is cut decidedly short when she dies at a dinner part

Alpine, Washington, newspaper publisher Emma Lord becomes a murder suspect when the man to whom she refused to sell her newspaper is found dead and must work with Sheriff Milo Dodge to prove her innocence.

"The picturesque town of Alpine in the foothills of Washington state's Cascade Mountains--home to Emma Lord and her weekly newspaper The Alpine Advocate--has long charmed and enthralled mystery lovers. Now, with The Alpine Zen, Mary Daheim has at last reached the anticipated letter of Z. Her legion of avid armchair sleuths will relish this deliciously gripping novel. As an early summer heat wave beats down on Alpine, Emma and her staff are treading...