Harriet Wakefield Mystery

Nightmare in the Attic takes place in the wine country in Napa Valley, California. It is the story of a brilliant young artist turned forger by impatience and greed. When a famous sculptor is found dead (accident or murder?), Harriet becomes involved. At first she gets side-tracked by several other players who turn out to be benign, however, beyond their penchant for money. During the course of Harriet's investigation, a number of gruesome and mysterious murders are committed. When she finds herself trapped in the attic of a house by someone she thinks of as a murderer and a fire she herself has started, fueled by priceless paintings, much of the conundrum becomes clear; but it isn't until she uses her intuition that she finally unmasks the killer--someone she never suspected.

The Harriet Wakefield Mysteries star Art History Professor Harriet Wakefield, a professional woman with a passion for sleuthing. Her supporting cast are: Norm Taylor, PI and man about town; Carter Harris, would-be lover of Harriet and art dealer; and Charley Bell, police commissioner of San Francisco. All books have art as their basis. Stolen art, forged art, pre-Columbian art, antique manuscripts and antiques in general. Each story, of course, draws in new characters. Each book has at least one sub-plot, usually two. The relationship between Harriet and Carter as potential lovers adds to the interest of the series.