Murder at the Art Fair Raises the Stakes: A Jessica Shepard Mystery, Baum Carol

an obsessive immunologist in career transition, is summoned by a mysterious correspondence from her former mentor, she's intrigued. Brilliant microbiologist Dr. Kevin Grant wants to meet her atop Montreal's famous Mount Royal. She has no way of suspecting that the proposed meeting will hurl her into a vortex of brutal murder, professional competitiveness, and medical malfeasance.

Jessica is introduced to a colorful cast of characters including an enigmatic hotel concierge, a wellness physician with a taste for luxury, and even a psychic. With the help of a determined Canadian narcotics detective, she goes undercover and embarks on an investigative journey that will lead her to the truth as well as to her own burgeoning self-discovery and emotional fulfillment.

Having to travel through the sophisticated Canadian city of Montreal and visit many of its landmarks, including the famous "Underground City," Jessica uncovers the more dangerous side of Montreal's seemingly placid locales to solve the mystery of Kevin Grant's urgent summons. The question is, can this attractive immunologist use her scientifically honed didactic reasoning to solve the mystery before it's too late?

While there, Jessica also plans to reconnect with former admirer Canadian narcotics detective Alain Raynaud, in Paris visiting his teenage daughter, who happens to be interning at Averi's private art museum. When a museum employee dies, Jessica and Alain must once again team up to solve the crime. Their journey takes them from Paris to a ch teau in the Loire Valley and on to the diamond center of Antwerp.

Along the way, they cross paths with Averi but also a rare books seller, an analytical accountant, a Belgian diamond dealer and art connoisseur, and a seasoned French detective. Together, Jessica and Alain work to solve a mystery and unravel how all of these unique individuals around the world relate back to an unsolved murder.