Mary, Mary

When the bodies of three young girls are unearthed in Mary Barton's garden, the retired Florida schoolteacher insists she didn't do it. But an eyewitness—the woman next door—has a different story: she swears she saw "Mary, Mary quite contrary," so called by her neighbors, burying something the night before. Mary's former student Melissa Lowdnes can't believe the fun-loving teacher she once knew could ever carry out a murder—much less three—and seeks the help of lawyer Matthew Hope. Matthew only takes on clients he feels are innocent, and he's got a hunch that Mary could be telling the truth—that is, when she isn't ranting about the neighbors she feels have done her wrong. Matthew follows clues and builds a solid defense, but his strategy runs into a major setback: he's going up against "killer" assistant district attorney Patricia Hemming, and she's got an offer on the table that compromises the entire case.

Good fences make guilty neighbors in this suspenseful thriller from crime-fiction master Ed McBain.