The Fool's Errand

Six years ago, Frank Tavohnen accidentally killed his then wife in the basement of their Petoskey, Michigan home. An overzealous prosecutor who believes the killing was no accident uncovers new evidence. Frank is hauled out of his Grosse Pointe home and arrested for murder. But all is not lost...yet. Suzanne Fairchild, the sister of Frank’s new wife tries to recruit her former lover, Burr Lafayette, to defend Frank. Burr, in his late forties and recently divorced, is the deposed head of the litigation department of a major Detroit law firm. He is a reluctant advocate having no interest or experience in this or any criminal case. A man at loose ends, Burr much prefers duck hunting with his yellow lab, fly fishing with his law partner, and the pleasures of good red wine. Nontheless, he is a brilliant litigator and Suzanne finally persuades him to take the case. To prepare for the trial, Burr moves his office to his leaky sailboat in Harbor Springs, just across Little Traverse Bay from Petoskey. He soon discovers there are more secrets buried in Frank’s basement and hidden in Petoskey than Suzanne ever let on. The case turns out to be more than a murder trial, and Burr finds his own life in danger.