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| Amateur Sleuth |
Finding a large hole on one’s property is one thing; finding a body in it the following day is quite another.
Rona and her ex-husband, Johnny, also discover a sheet of paper at the gravesite, symbols looking like code or treasure hunting glyphs. What’s it mean? Does it have any bearing on the man’s death?
Add to this mix the old Finley-Tennet feud and an elderly Finley’s nebulous recollection of James/Younger outlaw days. Does she have the clue to the cache’s location?
When a second death pushes Rona and Johnny into a deadly game of hide-and-seek with the killer, she learns—nearly too late--just how deeply Johnny still loves her.
MY REVIEW
EXCERPT
A really
enjoyable mystery. This could almost be called a cozy but it has all of the
twists and turns of a somewhat more complex plot. This time Rona and her ex
seem a bit closer and McAlan keeps you hoping all the way through that they’ll
get back together. However, that’s something you’ll have to find out by reading
the book; at least as far as this reviewer is concerned. There are once again a
few historical hints in this book as there were in the first one. I’d call it
historical flavor more than anything else. I loved all of its hidden messages
and the puzzles that Johnny and Rona try to solve. Don’t get me wrong, this was
not a deep subject, or a hard to read, heavy book. It is a fun read that will
keep you wondering who is the bad guy or girl, along with of course, a few dead
bodies. You know…all the things a mystery is supposed to have.
Jessie
McAlan seems to be as good at describing her characters and keeping them alive
as she was in the first book. The small
town of Klim and its inhabitants are still working and playing and of course spreading
gossip faster than a speeding bullet. And then there’s Linn House. It sounds as
beautiful as ever with its beautiful Mississippi river accompaniment flowing by
and McAlan does it justice by her beautiful descriptive writing.
This is the
2nd book in her series called “The Linn House Mysteries” and it is
as good as Book 1 titled “The House on Devil’s Bar”. Wonder when Book 3 is due?
***This book
was provided to me free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
EXCERPT
She’d set her laptop on the coffee table and was getting out dessert plates and mugs when the bell to the side door rang. She cracked open the window, saw it was Johnny, then ushered him inside.
“First time in quite a while I’ve been given the eye.” He gave her a light kiss on the cheek. “Wouldn’t a peep hole in the door work better?”
“I just wanted to be certain it was you. Can you install a peep hole?”
“Nothing to it, especially for a man who’s put in those picture windows in his shop.” He flung his cap onto the kitchen table and shrugged out of his jacket. “Why the precautions all of a sudden?”
“It’s a long story.”
“I’m not busy the rest of my life. Except for October 28th. I’ll be occupied with the gallery’s opening that day. But the other ten thousand nine hundred fifty days are yours.”
“How long is that?
”
“Thirty years, give or take a leap day or two. I want to make sure I’m not skimping on our time together.”
“You plan on living to one hundred seven?”
“I don’t see why not. I have to make up for our year of separation and divorce.” He dished two servings of the pudding cake into the bowls, set them and the mugs on the tray, and took them into the den. “So, what’s this long story that requires precautions? I love stories. I was brought up on stories.”
“This isn’t Little Red Riding Hood. Sorry to disappoint you.”
“So it’s something else with a big bad wolf.”
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
A family trip to the Big Spring area in the Missouri Ozarks introduced Jessie to the wonders
of nature. Her summer stints as a camp counselor and canoeing instructor cemented her enthusiasm. This love of the natural world and the river flows through her Linn House mysteries.
In 2001 Jessie graduated from Webster University with a BA degree and departmental honors in English.
She lives in the St Louis, MO area, and spends as much time as she can writing mysteries and watching the barges on the river.
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Kathy and everyone! Thank you, Kathy, for the review and for hosting me today.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading A Hasty Grave. It looks like it is going to be a big hit.
ReplyDeleteHi, Angela. Thanks so the trust! ;-) Hope you like it. I kinda like Johnny, especially!
DeleteI think so too Angela
ReplyDeleteI can usually tell if a book is going to be a hit or not. I just can't wait to read it.
DeleteWish I had your talent, Angela. I've picked up some "good" books, only to be disappointed. I hope A Hasty Grave doesn't disappoint.
DeleteI can only hope, ha ha! ;-)
DeleteYou need not worry Jo. I will not be disappointed.
DeleteYou need not worry Jo. I will not be disappointed.
DeleteI enjoyed getting to know your book and thanks for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lisa! Glad you logged on...good luck with the raffle drawing!
DeleteSounds like a great book!
ReplyDeleteVictoria...I sure hope you like it if you read it! And good luck with the raffle drawing! Thanks for "dropping by!"
ReplyDeleteThanks so much to everyone for stopping by today. Best of luck on the Giveaway and best of luck to you, Jo, on your new book!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review and thanks for hosting the book, Kathy. And thanks to everyone who commented -- good luck on the raffle drawing!
Delete