N. A. Granger

I loved this book, the first historical fiction by Noelle Granger. As a friend of the author, I will not star it, but I would give it somewhere between 4 and 5 stars if I could. The story is, as the title says, about the last surviving Pilgrim of all those who came over on the Mayflower. The Separatists, who disavowed the Christianity of England left to find a place where they could worship freely. Blown off course and not finding a place to anchor the boat, even getting ashore was difficult. By the time they reached a place where they could live, large numbers of the travelers had died of diseases and lack of healthy food. It appears so many women died that there were many more men, which led to them remarrying women much younger than themselves. The main character in the story, Mary Allerton, is sent to live with another family, with hope that they will be able to train her to become a woman who behaves properly and in accordance with their Separatist faith. There are many threads to this story: the relationship of the colony with the surrounding native tribes and with other colonies that have come to the new land. It is a fascinating look at the power struggle as everyone tries to protect themselves and keep the peace. Mary grows into a young woman, marries and has children and this novel tells of her life in the New World. As it is said, the devil is in the details, and the author has certainly done enough research to give you an idea of every part of their lives. A fascinating read either as history or fiction.… (altro)

Another great mystery by N.A. Granger! In fact, they just keep getting better! Again, since I know the author, I will not officially rate it but I would give it 5 stars. The plot is intriguing, as mystery after mystery piles up and one senses a connection between seemingly unrelated murders. The small college of Pequod is also visited by drug traffickers and leads to several tragedies. Through all of this, Rhe Brewster is on the trail with her sidekick, Paulette, taking a larger role than in the previous books. Of course the Chief of Police, Sam Brewster, is still there trying to do two jobs at once: his own and trying to keep Rhe from endangering herself — a job too big for just one man. Altogether another fantastic mystery read!… (altro)

The eye catching title page of this murder mystery exactly reflects the prologue where the victim is deposited in full sight of a group of mother’s watching their sons’ soccer match, but the scene has been set specifically for Rhe Brewster, our heroine and narrator. Rhe is a part-time emergency nurse, wife and mother whose stubborn, determined character make her an ideal investigator with a penchant for putting herself in danger, which adds to the drama.
Gradually, Rhe’s life growing up in the small Maine coastal town help her to unravel both the reason for the victim’s death and a conspiracy involving many significant people in the community. The back story of communication problems within her marriage and valued relationships with others ensure that the reader will want to return to Rhe’s life in future mysteries.
Characterisation is well developed, especially in the case of Sam, the police chief and some, apparently minor characters, tease the reader. Are they only a small part of the plot or will they prove to be part of the major criminal activity?
As a British reader I had trouble with some of the vocabulary. I had to look up Mirandized (read your rights) and had no idea what a “red slicker” was but generally Ms Granger has a fluent, clear style of writing which advances the storyline while enabling us to understand Rhe’s feelings. Some of the quotes she makes from literature and songs are unfortunately misquotes which are difficult to ignore, but Rhe’s original comments such as her, “peculiar sense of ownership of this crime,” enhance the narrative.
The balance of problem solving, “edge of seat” events and a heroine who is likeable and real, make this an enjoyable read and I shall certainly look forward to her next venture into the precarious world of crime.
… (altro)

Rhe Brewster is a sassy lady. Not content with working part time in ER and looking after her hyperactive son, she is also a consultant with the local police department. I first met her in the murder mystery Death in a Red Canvas Chair and now she has returned, brave and intelligent as ever, to discover a serial killer.

Although her son Jack suffers from ADHD he seems to be coping better in this novel but Rhe’s unlikeable husband Will is going from bad to worse. Luckily she has the sympathetic support of her brother-in-law, Police Chief, Sam Brewster and the best friend ever, neighbour Paulette. I’d love to have a friend like Paulette living nearby with coffee always ready and superb meals provided at the drop of a hat!

Rhe’s ability to cope with family drama and unpleasant murder details is sorely strained when she is attacked by a drunk at the hospital. There are repercussions effecting her employment and she begins to feel threatened. However she continues to investigate the disappearance of four young girls, over the years, in the area of her small town, Pequod in Maine.

Working with Federal Agent Bowers she discovers what has happened to the missing girls but finding out who is responsible is more difficult. Unwittingly, Rhe lures the perpetrator into further action putting herself in danger of losing her life.

The fate of the victims in the story is very unpleasant but following the investigation and trying to guess who the murderer might be is intriguing. Rhe and the other characters are well rounded people whom you might meet in any small town and I felt really involved in this exciting tale. N A Granger writes knowledgeably about the fishing industry and also about hospital life, giving the book complete authority. I am now looking forward to her next mystery and also following the events in Rhe’s personal life.
… (altro)