Fallen From Grace

Arahpot, Pennsylvania, the setting for J. R. Lindermuth's book, Fallen From Grace, is a peaceful town in the early 1900's. Far removed from the wild, wild west Arahpot is civilized and up to date in all the newfangled  amenities like a telegraph office. Sheriff Sylvester Tilghman has little to occupy his time except drive around in his spanking new Sears and Roebuck buggy and wonder if his lovely Lydia will finally accept his proposal of marriage or, more importantly, if she will invite him to supper. That is - until a teamster delivers a badly wounded man to Doc Mariner's door. It turns out to be murder. 

Who was this man and what connection, if any, did he have with the newly arrived Delbert family? During the course of the investigation the suspicious Valentine Delbert drops dead of - natural causes? That remains to be seen. Did the beautiful new wife poison her obese husband? And what was going on with the girls that worked at Matilda's boarding house? Were they just house maids, with the occasional entertainment assignment, or innocent bystanders?

'Rubbing salt in a raw wound' as Sheriff Tilghman would no doubt say was the appearance of the lovely Lydia's charming cousin, Cyrus Gutshall. Lydia is determined that he will make the ideal deputy for the sheriff and Tilghman is just as determined to stay far away from the obnoxious interloper. But when Tilghman's life is on the line will Gutshall help or hinder?

Fallen from Grace is a delightfully easy read with fascinating characters and a true sense of place. It is also a good mystery with plenty of suspects and enough twists in the plot to offset its leisurely pace. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Learn more about J. R. Lindermuth at Village of Mystery

An Uncertain Refuge

 Carolyn J. Rose is a brilliant author. In her latest book, An Uncertain Refuge, she strums tension as taunt as a tight-rope walker's wire, leaving the reader ready to gasp at every misstep.

   An Uncertain Refuge  is not your traditional mystery, it is more a statement on the horrific and tragic lineage of domestic violence. It is, at times, a painful book to read. Kate Dalton, her own childhood marred by a different sort of trauma, is caught in a web of incontrovertible revenge as she strives to shield the child, Way-Ray, from the raw abuse and terror his mother endured. It is a story of courageous love and bitter hatred. The characters clearly crafted from the handicapped, alcoholic handyman, the compassionate motel maid, to the strange old woman who cares for wounded animals.

It is a book hard to put down, especially when dreaded events occur and the human master of violence unleashes its wrath.  It is also a book that will, for a long time, haunt your memory. 

    

Village of Mystery

Old Loves Die Hard

 

On the day of his divorce retired homicide detective, Mac  Faraday, learned  he had inherited a multi-million dollar estate from his famous birth mother.  He was just settling into his new lifestyle when his ex-wife knocked on the door of the mansion begging him to take her back.   Faraday soon discovered that Old Loves Die Hard when Christine, the ex, and her lover, were both found brutally murdered in Faraday’s private penthouse suite.The main suspect?  Mac Faraday. 

 

In this second book of the series, continuing from, It’s Murder My Son, Lauren Carr weaves a tight and challenging tale of Washington DC politics, less than scrupulous attorneys, court judges, and an intrigue of justice served that has the reader engaged in guessing games.  Murderers had escaped punishment, only to become victims. Who killed them – and why was Christine involved?  Or was she? Who was Nita, the mysterious Spanish speaking maid?  No one is above suspicion.  It takes everyone, Mac, his secretary Archie, his half-brother David and even Gnarly the kleptomaniac German shepherd to fit together the pieces of this puzzle.  

Under the Gun - Again!

This wasn't the post I intended to write this morning. I put some more mystery writers and their new releases on Village of Mystery yesterday and was going to tell you about that.  However, my heart is heavy, my mind not functioning on the business of the day. I am still searching for friends and relatives that lived in the Joplin Missouri area. There has been, so far, no word from them. If you missed the news 25 percent of Joplin was destroyed by a massive tornado about 5 p.m. yesterday. 

To make matters worse this part of the state is under severe weather alerts for the next two days. Right now black clouds are hovering overhead and the weather radio indicated our county is in the path of a thunderstorm that may, or may not, produce a tornado. On that note I'll let you go - until next time.

Dying for a Date

'If I’d known my clothes would be covered in blood by the end of the evening, I probably wouldn’t have agonized over my wardrobe selection.' 

This is the opening sentence for the book, 

Dying for a Date, by Cindy Sample. The main character, Laurel McKay, thirty something, divorced, mother of two is talked into joining the Love Club. Her first date is a handsome CPA who, in self-defense, she slugs with a cell phone only to find out the next morning that the man was found dead in his car. Can you kill someone with a cell phone? That's the question asked by Detective Tom Hunter as he tries to ascertain if Laurel is a serial killer, or just a victim of poor judgement and ridiculous circumstances. 

Disastrous dating is the overall theme of this very funny, highly entertaining novel. I found myself saying, "Yeah, that would be what would happen to me." There are many laugh-out-loud lines but there is also some jaw-dropping action. Lots of suspects, including the ex-husband, and a triage of plot complications. A delightful read.  Oh, and you will learn a new acronym; PTDMSS.  No, I'm not going to tell you what it means - you'll have to read the book!

Under the Eye of Kali

Under the Eye of Kali is a beautiful book; the cover, the writing, the obvious knowledge of India and her culture. Set in the tourist town of Kovalan, Susan Oleksiw, introduces us to Anita Ray, a half-Indian, half-American photographer.

Anita is the manager of her Auntie Meena's Hotel Delite and in that role becomes involved in an American tourist mystery. Four American women meet at the hotel, each traveling different paths. Jean comes up missing - Emily desperately ill. Anita takes it upon herself to unravel the mystery surrounding these guests. 

If you have always wanted to know India; the food, the customs, the legends linked to Kali, then by all means read this book. Oleksiw has traveled extensively in that country and shares her experience in wonderful detail. I confess to having a problem following the main plot. The undertow of subplots and agendas seemed to distract. Aside from that it is a book of excellent literary skill and an interesting read. 

The Night of the Living Deed

Are you afraid of ghosts? After reading The Night of the Living Deed by E. J. Copperman, you might change your mind. It's a romp of a read taking you through a hundred year old mansion on the New Jersey coast. Introducing you to characters, both living and dead, that will entertain, delight and generally make you laugh out loud.

Alison Kerby and her nine year old daughter, Melissa, have purchased the old house in order to begin life anew after Alison's ex 'The Swine' has packed his bags for brighter country. They have dreams of renovating the mansion and making it a year round guesthouse. That is, until they discover they are not living there alone.

Paul, a young private detective and his client, Maxie, are permanent residents. They both died in the house and find it impossible to leave. They need to know who killed them. The list of suspects is long - from the mayor, to a big time amorous real estate developer, to an overzealous history teacher. Who sent Maxie threatening emails? Why is Alison receiving similar ones?  And, what's this about an old document? The newly positioned chief of police would also like answers to questions but she and Alison seem at odds, especially when the chief is forced to visit the haunted house. You've got to love Alison's Mom and her solution to a dangerous scenario in the town cemetery.

One of the quirky little things I loved about this book is that E. J. Copperman has re-invented a very old ploy - talking directly to the reader. I found it amusing. The whole book was a fast, fun read. Not in the least bit scary except many when Tony, a friend and helper, gets his first 'ghostly' kiss. Now, that would be unnerving.

 

The Night of the Living Deed is the first in the Haunted Guesthouse Mystery Series.

I know most of my readers are too young to remember Jimmy Durante and his infamous 'Miss Calabash' but for those of you who do remember - 'Goodnight, E.J. Copperman, who ever you are.'