M-o-t-h-e-r spells murder

the long version

"Gwendolyn MacGowan escaped her dysfunctional parents and their Atlanta social whirl years ago, entering college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, then forging an independent life with her framing shop and huge Victorian 'castle' in neighboring Jamaica Plain. Finally at peace, she has no idea that her comfortable world will be shattered. The moment her father dies, Gwendolyn's headstrong mother, Elinor, moves to Boston 'to live with my beloved Gwennie.' Gwendolyn refuses, insisting Elinor move into a nearby senior residence. There, Elinor is brutally murdered at the hands of an unknown assailant. Still reeling from her mother's death, Gwendolyn is astonished to learn that Monica Colwell, her father's former mistress, has arrived in town from England with her teenage son, Eric. Eric disappears and Monica's throat is slashed as she sits on Gwendolyn's patio. The safe castle has been breached, and Gwendolyn realizes that unless she discovers the secrets buried deep in Elinor's past, SHE will be the next to die."--P. [4] of cover.