The Ballad of Frankie Silver - Sharyn McCrumb

“I want to show you a grave.” The sheriff said. There were three markers, smooth stubs of granite, showing the place where Charlie Silver lay. But, which marker was right? “All three. . .” the sheriff told Spencer Arrowood. Charlie Silver had been hacked into so many pieces that they had to bury whatever they found, and then bury some more. Charlie’s eighteen year old wife, Frankie, was accused to the gruesome crime. The year was 1832, the crime committed in the dead of winter. Did young, pretty, Frankie, mother to Baby Nancy, really commit this crime? According the courts of law she did; and was the first woman hanged in the State of North Carolina. Spencer Arrowood, over 100 years later and wounded in the line of duty, set out to find the truth. Was Frankie guilty? What was she trying to tell them when she had the noose around her neck and her father hushed her? He also wanted to know the truth about Fate Harkryder, another youth accused of being the Appalachian Trail murderer. Spencer, at that time a deputy, had arrested him twenty years ago and was a witness at the trial. Now – they were sending him to electric chair and Spencer wasn’t so sure that Fate was guilty, just like he wasn’t so sure of Frankie’s guilt. What did Fate know about the awful day when two young hikers were brutally murdered? He, like Frankie, was about to go to his death with the answer sealed on his lips. ‘The Ballad of Frankie Silver’ is a fascinating book about the law and lawyers. It’s a history lesson that keeps repeating itself.

Death Wears A Beauty Mask - Mary Higgins Clark

Death Wears a Beauty Mask is a novella never before published by the Queen of Suspense. In 1974, Clark, was inspired to write a story about the dark side of the New York City fashion world. It’s a tale about two sisters who look alike-and another woman who is made up to look like the sisters. Someone is found murdered in one sister’s apartment. Who was it? Was it really her sister – or someone else? What deep secret was being covered up in the newest fashion craze? The novella is a suspenseful thriller but there’s more, much more; nine other stories written by Clark in her early career. The first is, Stowaway, When the Bough Breaks, Voices in the Coalbin, The Cape Cod Masquerade, Definitely, a Crime of Passion, The Man Next Door, Haven’t We Met Before?, The Funniest Thing Has Been Happening Lately and the Tell-Tale Purr. This is an interesting book showcasing Clark’s many talents as a story-teller. Stowaway is Clark’s first published short story (1956). If you’re a fan of Mary Higgins Clark you won’t want to miss reading this one, and even if you have never read her before you’ll find this a good collection of suspenseful tales. Some, admittedly, better than others.

Summer Shadows

When Julia Lamontaigne received heartbreaking news that her sister and her husband were killed in an accident she never dreamed they had left their three children to her care. How could she possibly provide for herself and three other lives when she had just lost her job? Julia discovered that although the house she and the children were living in was mortgaged her sister had recently purchased an old fixer-upper in a small town near a lake in New Hampshire, hoping to make it their summer place. Financially, something had to give, and with thoughts of fixing up that place with the help of her three charges and selling it to make payments on the other house she packed up the kids, a few belongings, and began an adventure that would lead to far more than a financial solution! Julia found in their new location a house badly in need of cleaning and repair but did it also hold a deadly secret? A connection to that derelict old mansion at the end of the street where a young artist was murdered? It becomes apparent that someone doesn’t want Julia in town. Someone is watching her. . . Living in a neighborhood of free-spirited local characters, which tend to complicate life for Julia and her crew, especially the attractive cop next door, is the beginning of an engaging summer packed with action and emotional turmoil that leads to the knitting together of a real family. The family values addressed in this book were not only refreshing, in today’s jaded world, they added much to the mystery. I recommend Summer Shadows to any reader who wants a good read and to walk away knowing there are still people who care.

Three Days to Forever - Lauren Carr

Mac Faraday and Archie Monday are planning a wedding – simple enough until you throw in a few seemingly unrelated murders, a cell of terrorists, a heinous plot of mass destruction, bureaucratic cover up, and a new pair of high heeled boots – then, it gets interesting. Did Faraday kill the man who threatened him? Why was his DNA found at the murder site? What did Agnes, the tough handed mother of the bride, have in the black hole? Who targeted Faraday’s brother, David, as a sacrifice to Jihad? New characters, and old ones, merge in this exciting read. You’ll fall for the hard shelled naval officer, Murphy, who is a vegetarian and only drinks herbal tea. You’ll love the image of Jessica, Faraday’s daughter, her violet eyes, trendy clothes, closet full of shoes and purple Ferrari that screams spoiled rich girl – only don’t mess with her unless you’re up for a few surprises. And speaking of surprises, exactly who gets to walk down the wedding aisle? As always, the dogs take center stage every chance they get. From Jessica’s sheltie, Spencer (or is it Candi?), to Chelsea’s Molly and of course the ever present hero of the Mac Faraday series – Gnarly. This book, Three Days to Forever, is not only entertaining it is thought provoking. From the Bible reference to Ishmael, and in these shocking days of terrorist alerts, there are glimmers of truth mixed in a fictional account. The book is not intended as a political commentary, nor does it make broad accusations about our nation in general – yet, when you read it you may begin to wonder. . .what if?

The Deepest Dark

An elderly couple living out their remaining years in an isolated farmhouse – a famous writer, alone, working in a secluded cabin – three escaped convicts, Roach, Tattoo and Dog – sets up a terrifying and horrific scenario of brutal murder and willful kidnapping. Abby Miller’s life was torn apart when her husband, Corey, and daughter, Ellie, died in a car crash. Striving to get her writing life back on tract she told no one, not even Karen, her sister, where she had gone. Will that mistake cost her her life; or something even more horrible? And, why does the ring leader of the escaped convicts, Roach, seem vaguely familiar? Joan Hall Hovey’s The Deepest Dark is a thrilling, chilling, tale of sadness, regret and heart stopping suspense. Don’t miss it! Reader Beware: This is definitely not a cozy!!

Sucker Punches

This is a compilation of short stories written by Carolyn Rose and Mike Nettleton. I found the first three or four stories very entertaining. If you are an editor or publisher you will certainly enjoy the first one. After those it got a little far-fetched, although still amusing. It's a light read and something you can pick up and put down at will. Both writers are talented and imaginative. Worth the purchase.

The Novel World of Angela Crown

Crime has long reaching effects on its victims. Angela Crown is the small girl hiding under the bed when her mother is murdered – Angela Crown is the young woman, preparing for her honeymoon, who gets word that her fiancé and father are victims of a bank robbery gone bad. The violence suddenly becomes too much. As an aspiring writer, and avid reader, Angela is caught up in a world where she can no longer separate fact from fiction. Leaping into the pages of the latest thriller she sees herself as an avenging angel for the characters that are in danger. She perceives the authors and creators of the books as evil people preying on innocent beings. The Novel World of Angela Crown is a book within a book. The author skillfully takes the reader from the physical world of Angela Crown to the fiction world she creates from the books she reads. Her sister, Maggie, her psychiatrist, Liam Price, a police detective and a former teacher are striving to bring Angela back into the real world. A famous author sympathizes with her illness but becomes the victim of her increasing rage. It was difficult to place a rating on this novel. The concept was fascinating. Still, I found some of it very far-fetched and at times tedious. If you are looking for a book that is out of the ordinary you may want to give it a try. Reader beware – you may not like the ending.