Finding the Source: A Cold Case Mystery with Heart, Humour, and Small-Town Secrets

“She was a great mother. She really loved me.”

I glance at Tom as he wipes away a tear with a paper napkin. Tread lightly, Isabel.

“I’m so sorry.” I pause. “Do you mind if I make copies with the camera on my phone?”

“Go right ahead.”

Tom watches as I take a shot of each photo. He carefully slips each one inside his wallet when I’m done. I notice the edge of a dollar bill, which makes me wonder what cash I might have on me. I made out great on tips at last night’s Halloween party. Would he spend it on booze or cigarettes instead of food? Honestly, that’s up to him. This gift would have no strings attached.

“I’m sorry if my next questions will seem cold, but I need to know the facts about the day your mother died.”

“It was April 20.”

I hold up my hand when I hear footsteps behind me. Dottie is bringing our plates of food. Tom’s dish is indeed a super-duper size. He bites into one of the pieces of bacon. Then Dottie is back to refill our coffee mugs and to see if we want anything else. Yes, I’d like to hear more from Tom. But that’s not her concern although I bet she must be curious as hell why I am having breakfast with one of the homeless guys she probably sees wandering downtown. I wait until he has had a couple of mouthfuls of food before I continue.

“Why don’t we start. What can you tell me about that day?” I say.

“I was the one who found her,” he blurts.

“That must’ve been so hard.”

He shakes his head as he swallows.

“Yeah, it was. Real hard. I couldn’t believe it when I saw her.”

“I know this is difficult but tell me about it.”

Joan Livingston

About the author

Joan Livingston is the author of novels for adult and young readers, including the Isabel Long Mystery Series, featuring a longtime journalist who becomes an amateur P.I. solving cold cases in rural New England.

Joan draws upon her own experience as a longtime journalist in Massachusetts and New Mexico to create Isabel Long, a sassy, savvy widow who uses the skills she acquired in the business to solve what appears to be impossible cases. She also relies on her deep knowledge of rural Western Massachusetts, where she lives, to create realistic characters and settings.

She also drew on those insights while writing The Sacred Dog, Northern Comfort, and The Sweet Spot, all set in the fictional hill towns of Western Massachusetts.

Review

Picking up Finding the Source was a bit of an experiment for me. I hadn’t read any of Joan Livingston’s other books, even though this one is the eighth in her Isabel Long Mystery Series. Normally, I’m a little cautious about diving into a series so far in, because you wonder if you’ll feel left out or confused. But I can honestly say that wasn’t the case here. From the very first chapter, I felt like I was being welcomed into Isabel’s world, and it didn’t take long before I was completely hooked.

The story begins with a chance encounter. Isabel Long, a private investigator in a small New England town, is out with her mother when they’re approached by a stranger named Tom. He blurts out that his mother, Abigail McKenzie, was murdered more than forty years ago, and the case was never solved. That single moment sets the stage for everything that follows, and it is such an effective way to start. Right away, you know this isn’t just another routine investigation. It is a cold case, weighed down by years of pain and neglect, and you can feel the urgency in Tom’s request even if he doesn’t have the means to hire Isabel properly.

One of the things I appreciated most, especially as someone new to the series, is how real Isabel feels. She isn’t some perfect detective with all the answers; she’s a widow, a former journalist, and a part-time bartender who has stumbled into this second career of solving mysteries. Her voice is witty and down-to-earth, and she’s the kind of character you want to spend time with. She’s also not alone. Her ninety-something mother is her sidekick, and their relationship is one of the best parts of the book. There’s humour in the way her mother still fusses over her (like reminding Isabel to zip up her jacket), but also a deep sense of love and teamwork. It’s unusual to see an older parent written as an active, clever companion in a mystery, and it adds so much warmth.

The heart of the book, of course, is the murder of Abby McKenzie. Abby owned a bookstore, and the suggestion that her death might somehow be tied to the rare and valuable books she kept adds a layer of intrigue. As Isabel digs into the case, she discovers that small-town life, with all its connections and grudges, makes for a complicated web of suspects. Everyone seems to have something to hide, and the deeper she goes, the more she realises this was no random act of violence.

For me, as a new reader, the appeal was in how approachable the writing felt. Joan Livingston doesn’t bog you down with backstory or expect you to know everything that happened in the previous seven books. Sure, there are references to earlier cases, but they’re mentioned lightly, almost as anecdotes, and they never slow down the current story. It’s the best of both worlds: if you’ve read the series before, you’ll recognise familiar faces; if you haven’t, you won’t feel lost for a second.

Another highlight is the setting. Livingston makes the small towns of Western Massachusetts come alive in a way that feels both specific and universal. The empty storefronts, the second-hand shops, and the local bars all feel authentic, and they give the story a strong sense of place. The Rooster, the bar where Isabel works part-time, is especially memorable, filled with colourful regulars who provide both comic relief and snippets of local gossip that end up being surprisingly useful. As someone who hasn’t read the series before, I loved how quickly I felt grounded in this world. It’s the kind of setting you can see yourself revisiting in book after book.

And while this is definitely a mystery, it isn’t all dark. There are plenty of lighter moments, especially when Isabel interacts with her boyfriend Jack, her loyal group of informants known as the Old Farts, and her determined mother. There’s even a Halloween party at the Rooster that had me laughing out loud. These moments of humour and community balance out the seriousness of the murder investigation, making the book feel more human and well-rounded.

Plot-wise, the mystery is carefully constructed. The cold case format allows Isabel to chase down old newspaper stories, interview people who still remember Abby, and piece together a crime that many assumed would never be solved. Just when you think you’ve figured out where it’s headed, a new detail or revelation makes you question your assumptions. I appreciated that Livingston plays fair with the clues. You never feel tricked, but you also don’t get the answer handed to you too early. The final reveal is satisfying, tying up the threads in a way that feels earned.

For a first-time reader like me, the biggest surprise was how much I cared about the characters by the end. I went in expecting to focus on the puzzle of the murder, but what kept me turning the pages was Isabel herself. She’s curious, sharp, and stubborn, but also compassionate. She’s motivated not just by solving the case, but by giving Tom and Abby the dignity of truth after decades of silence. That sense of purpose lifts the story beyond just “who did it” and makes it about healing and justice, which is a much more powerful payoff.

I also want to mention Livingston’s style. Her writing is clear, crisp, and straightforward. You can tell she has a background in journalism because there’s no wasted fluff. But at the same time, she’s great at capturing the atmosphere. A grey New England afternoon, a dusty second-hand store, a lively bar; she can paint them in just a few strokes, and you’re right there with Isabel. It’s writing that gets out of its own way, letting the story and characters shine.

By the time I reached the end, I felt like I’d been part of Isabel’s world for much longer than a single book. That, to me, is the sign of a successful series entry. It stands perfectly well on its own, but it also tempts you to go back and read from the beginning. I’m already curious about her earlier cases and how she ended up where she is now.

So, here’s the short version: even if you’ve never read a Joan Livingston novel before, Finding the Source is a great place to jump in. It’s engaging, it’s heartfelt, it’s funny in places, and it’s got a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. More than that, it’s filled with characters you’ll want to spend time with, in a setting that feels both familiar and rich with possibilities. I started this book not knowing what to expect, and I finished it already planning to check out the rest of the series. That’s about the best endorsement I can give.

In the end, Finding the Source isn’t just a strong mystery. It’s a warm, entertaining story about people, community, and the search for truth. Whether you’re a seasoned fan of Isabel Long or, like me, brand new to her world, this book is well worth your time.

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