J. T. Ellison's When Shadows Fall Presents Creatively Complex Mystery and Suspense!

"I'd like to hear more about
Eden. Is it rare to have a
female cult leader? Sam
asked.
Thurber nodded. "Not rare,
but certainly not common.
Eden was an interesting crew.
They were set up to work in a
trinity--I don't know if you are
familiar with the idea of
synarchist rule?
Harmony among multiple
leaders?

When Shadows 

                  Fall...

By J. T. Ellison

A young girl, a middle-aged
woman and a woman in her
seventies/"
"Maid, mother and crone?"
"Right. But the older woman
was among the dead at the
barn.
~~~

Historically,Eden has three
leaders, all from the same
bloodline. Three generations of
women.

"Let not your heart be concerned with death,
for the three corners of our life are at hand.
Birth, life, death: this is the only cycle that matters.
Death is the great equalizer. Whether your life is
year or one hundred years, you will be
resurrected in me, and we shall all live forever
when the shadows at last fall."
--Curtis Lott

  

This latest version of this series was a first for me...Wow! I really enjoyed it and wish I had time to go back and catch up--I still might! Everything forensics is fun for me... Mostly because they are very detail-oriented and includes consideration of all things affecting a crime. This makes for a very complex mystery and suspenseful time for readers, wading through what is happening and trying to, maybe, solve the mystery in advance.. Obviously I have to recommend this one!

Dr. Samantha Owens stared out the window
of her new office, admiring the view she'd be
enjoying for the next several years. Trees...
And so different from her anonymous, stain-
less steel office in Nashville. A welcome
A change she'd openly pursued, sure to the
core she no longer wanted to work in law
enforcement. The idea of keeping herself
separate from the hurt and fear and messi-
ness of the real world appealed to her...
~~~

Lots and lots of trees. The Georgetown Univer-
sity campus was landscaped to perfection,
bringing the joys of wildlife and green space
to their urban oasis. Maples and will oaks,
zelkovas and ginkgo, viburnum and holly, and
more she had no names for. In truth, this deep
into the war, wet D.C. summer, everything was
so green it made hr eyes hurt. It was all so
bloody alive.
~~~

He was much bigger than she was; she could just reach her arms
around his body. She pulled him closer, and closer still, until he
picked her up as if she weighed no more than a leaf, and her legs
wrapped around his waist. He went to his knees and bent her backward
into the grass, and she wanted him, wanted him so badly, she didn't
care that people were walking down the street five feet away, on the
other side of her fence. She wanted him now...
~~~

The knock at the door made Thor leap
to his feet and go tearing into the hall.
He was too well disciplined to bark, but
stood at attention, yellow eyes fixed on
door. Xander tensed. He didn't like
unscheduled visits...
~~~

Samantha Owens  has been through some major personal issues, which is all I'll say because I haven't read those books... however, it has led to her accepting a teaching job to get away from the daily nightmarish environment of a forensic pathologist. Her husband and twins had been killed and she was still recovering, although she had met someone who had been able to push through to her emotions. Xander had a background that had also left him with issues, so that he lived in a cabin, along with his friend, Thor, away from it all, but he, too, fought being pulled back into dangerous situations...


She was already to go up until right before school would be starting... And she received this 

“Dear Dr. Owens,

If you are reading this letter, I am dead. I would be most grateful if you would solve my murder. I know how determined you are, and talented. If anyone can figure out this mess, it’s you.

I’ve compiled a list of suspects for you to look at, and set aside some money to cover your expenses. I fear your life may be in danger once they find I’ve contacted you, so I urge you to take every precaution.

Yours,
Timothy R. Savage”

"Let's get his clothes off. I can't believe they
redressed him after they examined him," she said.
"From what I've been told, there was no real
examination at all. You have a clean slate."
Sam looked at Regina. "What? I knew there
wasn't an internal exam, but nothing external,
either?"...
Sam shook her head, partly annoyced and partly
glad. When they said no post, she'd assumed they
were talking about an internal exam. What sort
of fool wouldn't do any external exam on a dead
body? Someone was trying to get Timothy
Savage out of the way, and fast...
They manhandled the body so it was facedown,
and Sam gasped.
~~~

Her first reaction was to ignore it; she could not get back into that work. But then a lawyer came to visit her and explained Savage had appointed her as executor as well as a request that she conduct an autopsy to prove he was murdered!

But before that lawyer left town, he had been killed!

...the doors to the conference
room opened and people started
streaming in. Fletcher entered
first and he introduced Sam and
 Xander to Agent Rob Thurber
and Agent Jordan Blake...

Last through the door was
a man Sam knew well,
tall and intense, with black
hair and the greenest eyes
she'd ever seen. Supervisory
Special Agent Dr. John
Baldwin...and her best
friend's fiance'...
~~~

Sam at least had to get the police involved, so she did talk with Fletcher, with whom she had worked in the past. Little by little she was drawn in and finally knew she had to help solve this case! At least to do the autopsy...
Fletcher was hooked up with an FBI agent for the kidnapping case, while Sam got to see another agent with whom she'd been involved in the past--as the financee of her best friend!

And then a series of murders started to occur...and they realized that those being killed had been listed in the will of Jack Savage!

But as these dual investigations continued, they began to intersect and two main issues became clear. There was a serial killer involved! And the cult that seemed to be right in the middle was also involved in criminal activities...

The upper part of Savage's back was covered
 in tattoos. Spirals and triangles and
stars, what seemed to be a type of Celtic
love knot. No faces, no names, just strange
symbols, arranged in what looked to be
a repeating pattern...
Later they discovered that this symbol
was placed on every member...~~~

Now everybody was moving forward, searching for Eden...

The complexity of this story is unbelievable, yet Ellison has put it together so that readers can get totally involved, at least up until the last few actions! It didn't surprise me, but I didn't have a clue what was going to climatically close out this one. Lots of great investigators in local and federal levels has been created so that relationships are easily developed and expansive to a series that could go on for quite some time without getting old. By the way, the characters included here were actually selected by the author, so I enjoyed making some final decisions and merging them into my review! Kudos to the author of this series!

There were many different aspects to what was happening with Sam, so that I wasn't quite sure that, after everything settled, she would continue with the plans as included... My guess is that ultimately she'll go back to full-time forensics work... What do you think? Do you agree? The author has given us a main character in whom we immediately are drawn to and interested in her personal life. Xander is a perfect companion, lover, and hopefully more in the future.  Exciting, to say the least, sensational overall...a great whodunit, especially since I missed the closing! I love being surprised with the ending.  Given my reading of this one book, I can feel comfortable recommending the entire series to fans of forensics crime mysteries and thrillers!


GABixlerReviews

J.T. Ellison is the New York Times bestselling author of eleven critically acclaimed novels, including The Final Cut with Catherine Coulter, When Shadows Fall, Edge of Black and A Deeper Darkness. Her work has been published in over twenty countries. Her novel The Cold Room won the ITW Thriller Award for Best Paperback Original and Where All The Dead Lie was a RITA® Nominee for Best Romantic Suspense. She lives in Nashville with her husband. Visit JTEllison.com for more insight into her wicked imagination, or follow her on Twitter @Thrillerchick orFacebook.com/JTEllison14

Blue Farm by Charles C. Anderson Heartbreaking, Horrible in Several Ways! Kidnapped!

Although the twins, Jack and Ava Carlson had perfect SAT scores at age fourteen, their mom Lindsey refused to allow them to go off to college. Her minimum age for college was sixteen years old. Being a child prodigy and a warrior at the same time was tricky enough. Lindsey and Andy Carlson agreed that Jack and Ava needed to put puberty behind them, develop some much-needed social skills, and grow up physically in order to blend with other college students...
The twins announced their intention to visit the University of Virginia in Charlottesville on the upcoming weekend. They planned to take their five-year-old brother Peewee with  them.
After the three kids had left the farmhouse, Andy tried to restrain his joy at the prospect of Jack and Ava attending a prestigious Southern university a scant fifty-five miles from the Farm they grew up on...

~~~

Blue Farm

By Charles C. Anderson

"Aren't you being a little selfish, Andy, wanting your kids to be close to home?"

"I'm sure that's a factor," he said, "but I'm thinking of our son Peewee the most. He has special needs. Peewee must grow up with his oler brother and sister close by. You know as well as I do that the twins taught each other more than we taught them. Their competitiveness has given them that edge you say in unfair. A five-year-old brainiac needs other brainiacs to interact with. You and I aren't brainiacs...

The Rotunda at the University of Virginia. Charlottesville, Virginia, United States (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

While Andy and Lindsey argued at home over when, where and which university their twins would attend, Ava and Jack were 

approaching the campus of the University of Virginia. Although they had looked at other schools, they had already decided, and knew that they would be going to this school so they would be near PeeWee their brother. Now they wanted to have Peewee look around, starting with the Rotunda.

Jack had immediately offered Peewee a ride on his shoulders since his brother could not easily handle steps and there were many up and into the building.

Ava had moved on ahead since they planned to start at the top and move down. Peewee and Jack had started to talk about the architecture on the campus.

They were the only visitors in the dome room.

"This is the largest round room I've ever been in," Peewee said, back on his own feet. He shoved his spiral notepad back in his right slash pocket. "I like those pairs of columns on the perimeter," he said. He looked up. "And that round skylight makes it bright in here." He walked toward the columns.

Jack walked toward a painting above one fireplace and Ava walked toward the painting over the opposite fireplace.

Peewee called, "There're bookcases behind these columns."

After examining one of the two paintings, Jack decided that the men depicted were Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe. All three Virginians had served as President of the United States. At one time James Madison had been a neighbor to James Carlson. A bridge across the Appomattox River at Sandy Ford connected Madison's property with Carlson's. All three presidents had visited the Carlson plantation.

"Peewee," Jack called, "come look at this." He stared at Thomas Jefferson's profile as he waited for Peewee to make his way to the fireplace.

Ava called from the opposite side of the dome room, "Peewee,"

Peewee didn't answer.

Ava and Jack met each other in the center of the round room. "He went behind a couple of columns over there," Jack said, pointing. They walked toward the perimeter of the dome room...The huge room was silent.

Ava appeared from behind two columns, "I don't like this, Jack," she said. "Peewee doesn't play hide and seek."...

Jack had almost come full circle when he heard Ava scream...

At the base of the column were the remains of Peewee Carlson's industrial-strength glasses. The thick left lens was cracked. The left temple that fit tightly over Peewee's ear had been crushed. The bridge was bent. Jack smelled the glasses...There were five tiny drops of blood on the cracked left lens, in a splatter pattern. The broken left temple had bright red blood on it. A blood trail pointed toward the stairs...

They lay on their sides, their foreheads touching, communicating without speaking for a few moments. They they cried like the day they were born. Peewee had been kidnapped.

~~~

The entire Carlson family were devastated when their five-year-old special needs child was taken, kidnapped during that trip. Jack and Ava, however, blamed themselves and were distraught, but they quickly made notifications and started to search the campus and interview the few students that were around. Andy and Lindsey, of course, were quickly on the way and got both the CIA and FBI involved. Hamilton was the CIA representative to come, quickly pointing out they didn't have any responsibility for this type of issue.

Andy quickly pointed out that they had just been actively involved with a major CIA action, when the President had personally called for their assistance. The end result had been the loss of a number of individuals from the same family--this could be revenge for those deaths! Hamilton accepted this was a point and agreed to a combined task force. but he wanted Andy's agreement that he would become an active CIA agent and accept special jobs, one for which he was already needed, but could wait until after they had found their son. Both Lindsey and Andy quickly agreed, but then was perplexed about what they might have committed to...

Soon, however, a demand for $5M was made. And they further demanded that Ava be the person who brought the money... It was felt that the exchange site was going to be a problem, until they learned more...

Life went on but the Carlsons were changed by the kidnapping... Still the twins had already signed up for the next semester and finally decided to go... Especially when they learned that the two remaining members of the Ivanov family were also scheduled to attend there...

But none of what happened could have ever been planned... The only thing possible was trying to protect Jack and Ava, who might be the next to be targeted... The ending of this one should be a major surprise on several counts...

Charles Anderson has created a series that attracts readers not only for the action-packed thrills, but also for the issues addressed as the family is raised as well as what the United States faces. Using true-to-life situations, the author openly shares about our government, world issues, and how to be prepared to live with the threat of terror...from anywhere and at anytime. Readers may not agree with his conclusions, but I think there is ample evidence that he's working continuously to pinpoint concerns about which we, as citizens, should be aware, prepared for, and alert to possible action. It is not unpatriotic to express opinions and highlight issues that must be addressed. If you are a concerned citizen, you just may become a warrior as well!

Although it is hard to read about a small child being callously hurt, the book brings us forward, better prepared and watchful... Highly recommended...

GABixlerReviews

Ann Mullen's What You See - A Country Cozy Mystery is what I call it! Cool!

www.whitworthfamily.org

      "Once in a while you come across something that really catches your eye. But beware, what you see is not always what you get, and what you get is not always what you want. My mother taught me that when I was a kid. Bless her heart, to this day she has a saying that applies to everything under the stars. As a matter-of-fact, she comes up with some stuff that just baffles my mind. It makes you wonder if parents sit around all day and think up stuff just to confuse you. Don’t they have other things to do? 

"I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me start from the beginning. My name’s Jessica Watson. My friends call me Jesse. My childhood was like any normal childhood, with the exception of being fortunate enough to have the same two parents. Nowadays, not many kids grow up with a mom and a dad, especially ones that are happy and create a good home life. I’m not saying everything was perfect, but it was about as good as it gets. I have an older brother, Jack, and a younger sister, Claire. Jack’s a lawyer and Claire’s married, with two kids, a house, and a new Mercedes. That says it all. They grew up and met all the expectations of our parents, while I just grew up. I think I did, however, sometimes I wonder. I’m thirty-one years old and have never been married. I’ve done my share of dating, but my luck with men is like my luck with jobs— pitiful. The right job hasn’t come along and Mr. Right hasn’t shown himself. I haven’t given up; I’ve just quit looking. 

"Like my brother and sister, I was born and raised in Newport News, Virginia. We call it Tidewater because it’s part of several cities located on a small peninsula on the east coast that boast of great fishing and hunting. You either made a living doing one or the other, or you worked in the shipyard where boats are overhauled. I don’t think any of those challenging careers alone was the lifeline of our city. We also have Langley Air Force Base, Fort Eustis, Fort Monroe, Camp Peary, and the Norfolk Naval Base, where my dad, Mack was last stationed until he retired a year ago. Upon his retirement, he decided it was time to leave what was now an overgrown city, and move to a quiet place a little less populated. My mom, Minnie, was ready to do anything he wanted. Somewhere along the way, Mom and Dad finally found the place they wanted to live. 


What You See

By Ann Mullen

 Favorite Virginia Author by Cooperative Living Magazine

Sit back and enjoy an old-fashioned, light-hearted fun mystery...It reminded me of my background and my present living in a log cabin in the middle of 13 acres of trees...The setting is pure country and the characters know exactly where they're living...and loving it... I should know... As soon as I retired from a university city with major facilites covering most of the town itself, I was ready for quiet, peace and contentment with just a few coons, 'possums, and deer to cause some strange night sounds. 

This book is also about family--the kind of characters that may not be blood related, but become family just because that is who they are. Sometimes those individuals just may become closer to you than your actual family members... And there doesn't have to be a lot of them--unless of course, one of your new family members have to be native american and when you get together with his family, its the whole tribe...Love it!

Jesse Watson has been out on her own for quite awhile, still unmarried, but she'd like to be. You know, that does make a difference, 'cause some people just never feel the need...

Of course, no matter how you may feel about marriage, those around you will nearly always think that you really want to be married, and are working just until that happens.

Jesse was like that at the beginning of the story, but by the time she got into her new profession... well, you can find that out yourself...

Jesse's father had retired and her parents had already picked out where they wanted to live now, sending Jesse into memories of the place where she grew up, their house...

But when they asked her to go see it one weekend, after wading through the bugs, she loved their new home!

With the troubles she'd been having with her roommate and a job she didn't like, it didn't take much thinking--she decided to relocate with them and find a job somewhere in Stanardsville...

And wouldn't you know it, her parents had already invited an eligible man to dinner! LOL...

Actually, he was a local police officer and lived nearby, so it wasn't exactly that they were out to immediately begin to match make...

Thing was, though, Cole was gorgeous! And she was quite content to drool all over him...

O

Once settled in, she checked the local want ads. The town was not very big and she wasn't finding anything until she spotted an ad for an office assistant...she could do that!

Forty minutes after I left the house, I reached Greenbriar Road...a Quick Stop gas station mini-mart, and next to it was 212— a McDonald’s. This led me to believe I was going in the right direction. After passing several business establishments, I came to a two-story, brick building with the number 200 on the front. The parking lot was big enough to hold six or seven cars, but there was only one there, and it looked pretty rough. The car was a faded green Mercury sedan that had to be at least twenty years old. I hoped this wasn’t any indication of the boss’ clientele, or worse, belong to the boss. I guess I’m just the pot calling the kettle black. Even so, I was out to make a living. On the left side of the building was a driveway. It was still raining. I scanned the inside of the van hoping to find an umbrella, but no such luck. Contemplating how I was going to get inside the building without getting soaked, I sat there and looked around. Maybe I should take some time and look this place over..
..."I felt like a waif going to dine at the Captain’s table on a luxury liner. I thought about turning around and heading to the nearest clothing store, when the door on the left opened and a man appeared. He was not just an ordinary man, either. Now I understood where the name Blackhawk originated. This man was obviously of Native American descent. He was huge— six-three possibly, and at least two hundred and ten pounds. Are all the men around here that big? He had long, shiny black hair, pulled back in a ponytail that went down the middle of his back. His skin was dark, and under his reading glasses, a pair of brown eyes focused on me. He was dressed in a well-tailored, black suit with a gray and red-striped tie. I thought the ponytail and suit were a strange combination. I guessed him to be about forty, or forty-five years old. 
“Hello, may I help you?” his husky voice greeted me. 
I held out my hand to him and said, “Hello, my name’s Jesse Watson. I’m here to see about the job you had advertised in the paper. I hope I’m not too late. I just moved here a few days ago, and I didn’t know how long the ad had been running. I’d like to apologize for the way I’m dressed, but I still haven’t finished unpacking.” I lied and continued to ramble. “This is the type of work I usually do. I don’t mean work for a private eye... but the office part of it.” I was falling all over myself. Later, I would realize my reason for acting like this was because he was such a big man, and the fact that he was Indian intimidated me. I don’t think I’ve known but one Indian, and I didn’t know her that well. He didn’t scare me— I just felt tiny and limp. Perhaps it had something to do with the lie I’d just told. 
"He reached out his hand and took mine in his, shaking it firmly, but not hard. Looking me directly in the eyes, he stated matter-of-factly, “Take a deep breath, Miss Watson. The job’s still open. My name’s Billy Blackhawk and I own this agency. I’ve talked to a few people so far, but I haven’t found the right person yet.”

~~~

And the rest, as they say, is history...She was not only hired, but soon began to learn about being a PI, going out on stakeouts, learning the use of the "spy" equipment, etc. Then a woman named Helen Carrollton was murdered... Well, actually, it was still be considering a disappearance and Blackhawk Investigations had been asked to try to find her, since the police had not yet learned anything.

I told you Cole was a cop, right? Well, naturally this caused a problem for Jesse since she was very interested in him, but she was also loving her new job. She was learning more and more and, sometimes, Blackhawk had to hold her back since she was so obsessed about finding Helen... Actually, the case turns out to be much bigger than anybody thought! Jesse was on to a young man and wouldn't let anybody forget that she picked him for being guilty...LOL

And while all that if going on, Claire, Jesse sister announces she thinks her husband is having an affair and spends quite a bit of time in and out of their new home. Then, sadly, Jesse's father dies of a heart attack and Minnie is left alone. It was Billy Blackhawk that helped her through, along with the rest of the family...lots of heartwarming happenings for you to enjoy sharing with this newly formed--and changed--family.

The mystery solution may surprise readers. I had begun to think about the possibility but there were other possibilities and quite a bit of cover up going on... But, somehow, Jesse seemed to be in the middle of so much that she kept getting hurt! And Cole and Billy seemed jealous of each other's relationship to Jesse... What kind of feelings had Billy developed for his subordinate, or should I say, new partner...

Here's my three favorite characters:

Learn about these three and the other main characters at http://www.aftonridge.com/characters.htm

Enjoy this one!

GABixlerReviews

Ann Mullen
Birthplace: Wilson, NC. Lived in Newport News, VA for 40 years, and then moved to Stanardsville, VA in 1999. Married with two adult children and one grandchild. To date, I have published eight books: WHAT YOU SEE, SOUTH RIVER INCIDENT, A CRYING SHAME, MIDDLE RIVER MURDERS, GREENE COUNTY KILLER, DEATH ON THE BELLA CONSTANCE, ALL ABOUT THE MONEY, and LUNCH BREAK SHORTS. In 2006, I was selected Favorite Virginia Author in a reader poll by Cooperative Living Magazine. Four of my books have been nominated for the Library of Virginia Literary Award. The books in my Jesse Watson mystery series are set in Greene County, Virginia, and feature heroine, Jesse Watson and her P.I. partner, Billy Blackhawk. Mystery/fiction with a little romance and humor. To contact me, email: aftonridge@aol.com 434-985-1957 Visit my web site www.aftonridge.com

Charles C. Anderson Provides Amazing Thriller - The Farm!

English: General Robert E. Lee mounted on Traveller, his famous "war horse". (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Farm


By Charles C. Anderson

Amazing Action Adventure!

Fantastic Setting! - I Want to Visit!

Unbelievable Main Character - Is he real?

Having read The First to Say No by Dr. Anderson and loved it, I knew to expect a good book when The Farm was sent my way...but, this book is a perfect example of why rankings just don't work...Do you go back and say I've got to lower the ranking on the other one--this one is fantastic! The truth is that both are great books and while I appreciated the purpose and the story in The First To Say No, I was overwhelmed with what The Farm presented to me. Comparing the two is impossible; they are both great in their different objectives. 

First, Dr. Anderson uses his total life experience in presenting The Farm to us! The setting is just unbelievable for historical value as well as for we who are spelunking enthusiasts! For history buffs, there is a subplot about the civil war from a slavery and genealogical viewpoint, as well as for civil war enthusiasts... If even a small part of the weapons and memorabilia from that time are real...let's just say, I'd like to see a brick of the confederate gold! In addition to the historical weapons, any weapons enthusiast will be thrilled with the quantity and variety there on the Farm (or brought in...).. 

In a way, this novel reminded me of the Citizen Warrior novels by David H. Brown where a trained soldier pulls in unlikely and just a few others to fight against evil that has invaded our homeland! In The Farm Navy SEAL Andy Carlson uses what is available--his property's assets and his knowledge of a setting that he has explored all his life. Just three other individuals help him as a lookout, a gunner, and, well, to the extent she can, a pregnant lady... Oh, By the Way, Carlson uses R. E. Lee as an alias sometime...

Now to give her credit (and blame), that lady happens to be a CIA Agent and she's in love with Andy Carlson. She's also the one who betrayed and lied to him, put a knife in his chest, stole his truck and ran! When she returns to The Farm later, she has been assigned to deal with a weapons purchase that is being made by Carlson...only to get caught in an explosion! Andy moves from his role as a SEAL to being a field surgeon--as her baby is coming--smoothly and with ease...OMG, what exciting scenes readers will be sharing with me!

And that is just one example of the twist of characters, where the assumed good guys are really bad--and the assumed bad guys are the ones there to help! In this world, one never knows who to trust and Anderson has done an excellent job in bringing that concern to fictional reality! So Cool!

I don't think I've read any author that had both military and medical training to the extent of being an expert in both fields. Dr. Anderson's personal history has undoubtedly led to his interest and research into the Civil War in Virginia in particular. All I can say is that when you read a novel from an expert in multiple professional fields, you are getting much more than the norm--this is an exceptional read for detail in the fields of medicine and weapons, especially. Gaining the expertise for the setting can only come from walking that land...and I wish I could do just that--Explore that Farm myself! The descriptions provided only whetted my love of woodlands, older buildings and caverns and their beauty!

Simply, one of the best novels I've ever read...


GABixlerReviews

Charles C. Anderson is a retired Naval officer, an emergency physician, and a weapons specialist. The plantation depicted in this book has been his family's home since 1743. He is an expert on Colonial Virginia, the Civil War, plantation life, slavery, limestone caves, trauma medicine, and military installations in Hampton Roads, Virginia, all key subject in his novel.

Dr. Anderson is also the author of The First to Say No! 

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• The First To Say No - Not Just Another Thriller...

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Review: Upcoming Dead Man of the Year - Great Whodunit!

Dead Man of the Year:


A Whodunit

By Stephen Hawley Martin

OakleaPress.com
ISBN: 9781892538758
268 Pages

Pre-Ordering Now Available!




A successful Whodunit for me is when the author is able to keep options of who the criminal is open all the way to the end. Stephen Hawley Martin’s Dead Man of the Year did indeed keep me guessing.

Especially since I thought who had done it was one of two others!

So, not only was I unable to guess, I was also pleasantly surprised with the cool ending!

In many ways this book could fit into the cozy mystery genre, so if you enjoy sitting down with a cup of tea to enjoy solving a mystery, you just have to include this novel on your to read list!

Brian Durston, the nephew of the victim, is the main character who is driven to find the one who killed his uncle, since the police are quite willing to call it the suicide that the scene was set up to reflect. Brian joined The Durston Negus Agency as heir-apparent to his uncle, who owned the majority 40% while Negus owned 30% and three others 10% each. Of course each of these individuals were suspects, but so was his uncle’s second wife, when he discovered that another woman was involved and there were signs that his uncle was considering another divorce!

Once Brian’s Uncle Rod was dead, he discovered that the method by which he, as well as Rod’s wife, was going to inherit was impossible—the insurance policy would not pay out for suicide! Did the killer know that when he staged the crime?

But the ad agency was also in trouble and Brian found himself trying to act on behalf of his uncle, without the authority needed. And their major account was up for “renewal” and the new owner was considering other agencies. A major problem Brian found was that the Creative Director, one of the 10% owners, was known for constantly going over the budget, while two others were intent upon recovering those costs through padding expense accounts sent to clients.

Of course, a little romance had to be added—and it came from a copywriter who enthusiastically seduced Brian one night, only to back off immediately and totally confuse him. But at least she stuck around to help him solve the murder...
This was my first visit into the world or advertising and I thoroughly enjoyed the creative versus financial interactions and how various issues had to be included in the consideration of potential ads. It was interesting to see the background research of sales across the country, for instance, and how it was used to plan ad campaigns.

This is a fun read; well written and sufficiently diverse to keep reader attention throughout. I wasn’t quite sure I understood the game plan for Brian’s romantic interest, but she did keep Brian’s interest! I also enjoyed a welcome return to Virginia and the beautiful college campuses there that I’ve visited during my university career...a nice side excursion for me!

A highly recommended visit into, perhaps, a new territory for your weekend enjoyment!

G. A. Bixler