"The Hired Man", by Sandra Dallas

Set in 1937 in Colorado, during The Dust Bowl era, this story captured the harsh realities of the time. Folks barely remember a time when the clouds were filled with rain instead of dirt and when the fields were green instead of brown. People were starving and no work was found…. women had to bear the brunt of their husbands’ frustration and the hunger of their children.

Young Martha Helen Kessler and her family were luckier than most, they had plenty on their farm and never hesitated to help others. So when Otis Hobbs, a drifter, showed up at the Kessler’s door during a vicious storm, Martha’s mother insisted they take him in…
…
When Frankie, Martha’s best friend was found murdered…. suspicion, jealousy and prejudice grip the neighbourhood……

Enjoy.

My thoughts:

The story moves very slowly to capture the harsh realities of life. The emotional impact is strong with themes of domestic violence, prejudice and the search for justice and to let Martha Helen face numerous challenges and learn valuable lessons about life. Mid-way, the tempo picks up and you find yourself in the middle of a murder mystery.

So many complex social issues are faced within the plot in ways that are not only historical accurate but said with care. I like the mix of the everyday life with mystery elements making this plot engaging and is easy to lose yourself in the story.

It is a good story I enjoyed quite a bit.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press for this Arc which I received via Netgalley for my thoughts: this is the way I see it

"Dangerous Midnight" by Melinda Woodhall

Bailey Flynn FBI Mystery book# 10

The evidence found at a crime scene links the murder to a serial predator known as the Midnight caller prompting FBI Agent Bailey Flynn to join the investigation into the tragic death of an unfortunate wealthy widow that was seeking a fresh start in Florida. As Bailey search the Florida Everglades, she found herself into a race to stop a sadistic killer before another dead body is found….

A Killer Hides Under the Cover of Darkness, Waiting for Midnight to Take His Next Victim

What can I say, once more Ms. Woodhall entertains by giving us not only a suspenseful story but one that will keep us guessing till the very last moment. Indeed, this story is engaging and hard to put aside for any thrill seekers. Who wouldn’t be captivated by a story that is concise and doesn’t beat around the bush by adding words to stretch the drama.

Leave it to Baily and her K9 partner, Ludwig, to team up with the local police and save the day. This story is a page-turner with a little more gore than the previous installments but why not after all it is a murder investigation…..

We do have recurrent players in Dalton, Cate and Sharma and some new players in minor roles to entertain us. A good story has side bars this latest gives us an update on Cate’s latest saga…..The family interactions and relationships add warmth to a somber tale.

One thing Ms. Woodhall has a formula that works very well although some may find the plots are becoming somewhat repetitive through time. I find them entertaining…..

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review

"Covenant of the Dead", by Glenn Cooper

Cal Donovan Vatican Conspiracy book# 8

I enjoyed this gripping thriller for its intellectual puzzle and its fast-paced conspiracy, as well as a story that includes a mystery, murders and a religious intrigue. Mr. Cooper knows well how to deliver a blend of historical, religious and scientific themes to captivate us from the get-go till we reach the last word.

Although this book is part of a series, it stands well by its own although I highly recommend to have a look at the previous books in order to know more about the protagonist, Cal Donavan, a Harvard professor, and Elisabetta Celestino, a former secretary of State to the Vatican. The two play a pivotal role in this latest. Be advise: IMO, some books are better than others but don’t give up, in the long run you will be rewarded.

The story in a few words:

Three nuns are murdered in the attic of a Boston convent. There are no witnesses. No shell casings.

The only things missing are their rosaries.

Days later, a Boston medium claims her spirit guide has identified the killer: a broken priest with an antique revolver. A single newspaper column turns that claim into a city-wide witch hunt.
Cal Donovan and former Vatican secretary Elisabetta Celestino step into the city’s séance rooms to test the story. What they uncover will reaches generations and the birth of modern spiritualism.

My last words:

The suspense never ends but I had to be all there in order to understand what was going on. We have a cracking police procedural, a medium’s spirit guide, a story about Boston mediums, a brief history of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his influence on Boston, a twisted case with roots going back 80 years and it goes on and on. The best a progression in the Cal and Elisabetta saga…awe….love is the air….

Thank you to Book Whisperer and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC and providing my honest review!