Review: Here's the Church, Here's the Steeple

Here's the Church, Here's the Steeple Amazon US HC Amazon UK HC Amazon Canada HC
Tempa Pagel
Class/Genre: Mystery Thriller Woman Main Character Amateur Sleuth
Five Star Publishing, Hardcover, 310 pages, $25.95

Andy Gammon grew up in Detroit. That's in Michigan. Now she's living in Newburyport, Massachusetts because she married a hard- shell Yankee and he wanted to return to his roots. Newburyport is not very large and like a lot of New England, is extremely proud of its long heritage. What's more, current citizens, including the movers and shakers in town, take a dim view of outsiders poking into dusty cupboards and rooting out stories of the old days that may or may not reveal unfortunate truths. It's bad enough when such probes are conducted by native daughters or sons. But when an outsider is the catalyst, look out. That attitude infuses the novel and the writing.

In spite of an awkward title, this debut novel is first rate. Andy Gammon takes on the town and the local cops when a freak windstorm shifts the old steeple at the First Parish Church. What's revealed is a skeleton and a silver tankard that last was known to be in the possession of the church in 1811. The discovery of these two items together sets off an inquiry that leads our intrepid amateur detective to a fresher corpse and a fire designed to warn her away from her mission. The solutions to both the old and the new crimes may not surprise you, but this clever well-written novel will certainly satisfy lovers of the traditional mystery. There is just enough tension and menace to keep readers turning the pages.

The blending of the historical thread with the modern-day investigation is nicely handled and shows that the author has done her research. Readers will not be mired in dusty reams of historical research. Indeed, the mix is just right. This is an eminently pleasant, well-paced story with several clever characters. Look for more stories from this author.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Carl Brookins - RAM

Book Review: Here's the Church, Here's the Steeple