This series gives a slice of life in rural Oklahoma with every story, and that is both charming and sometimes a bit too much detail. This is the fourth in the series, and involves Alafair Tucker's sister's family and the new industry of OIL! It was very obvious from about the 20th page where the missing person would be found, and I had to read a lot more of the book before it occurred to our clever mystery solver. That was a real aggravation, but the book was still interesting for the variety of characters and the portrayal of a growing American region. ( )

Excellent read. It's 1915, and Alafair Tucker, along with her oldest daughter Margaret, 24, and youngest daughter Grace, 3, take the train to Enid Ok. Alafair's brother-in-law, Lester is dying. Lester owns a large Transfer (trucking) and refrigeration company in Enid. Things are stressful enough for Alafair's sister. Now, Olivia, Alafair's niece, has a missing husband. He took off on a business trip and is late returning. This was a great story. This series gets better and better. I love the characters. ( )

This is the fourth book in the Alafair Tucker series, and I have enjoyed all of them up to now. For some reason I put this series on the back of my pile, and haven't gotten back to it for far too long. In this book Alafair and her oldest daughter Martha and her youngest daughter Grace are on a train at the beginning of the book. They are going to visit Alafair's sister Ruth Ann in Enid, Oklahoma in the fall of 1915. Ruth Ann's husband Lester is on his deathbed and Alafair is going to help her and to support her through her through this difficult time. As soon as they arrive, things seem to be uneasy and unsettled. For example, where is Ruth Ann's son-in-law and why is he staying away so long? Why does Lester seem to have something on his mind that he wants to share with Alafair? And Ruth-Ann's housekeeper/cook/nursemaid Lu seems to have a deep secret that she doesn't want to share. So while the family waits for Lester's passing, Alafair has time to pursue a little investigation on her own. With Martha's help, they set out to find out what happened to Olivia's husband (Olivia is Ruth-Ann and Lester's daughter). And on the way they discover family and the town of Enid secrets as long as your arm. These books are so very enjoyable because they are unabashedly set deliciously in early 20 century America. Donis Casey captures the sights, sounds, food, and lifestyles of that era. And all of her characters are so real and folksy that it's like you're there sitting in their parlor drinking tea with them. And as if that's not enough, we have Ike the cat who seems to think he's human. Ike is Ruth Ann's cat, and he doesn't miss a trick and even helps Alifair on her search for the truth. These books are so much fun, I highly recommend this series to lovers of folksy, cozy mysteries. ( )

The plot twists and turns around a dead man who stands to inherit a prosperous shipping company from his dying father-in-law. The town boss, a respected, but feared man is suspected, but sensible Alafair wonder's about the destructive searches of the dead man's office, home and oil field. Why kill a man who has hidden what you want? Meanwhile Alafair's oldest daughter struggles with her conflicting desires for career or marriage and baby Grace is visited by "Mr. Wing-Neck" in her dreams. The tale is set in Oklahoma of 1915, a time when oil strikes were creating sudden wealth while citizens still celebrated the land rushes of the past. Well written, it is the fourth in a series featuring Alafair Tucker, an Oklahoma housewife with a trace of Indian blood. ( )

This series just keeps getting better and better. As Alafair and Shaw's children are growing, life is changing drastically for them. Two daughters are married, one grandchild has arrived and a third daughter is engaged.

In the midst of all this Alafair, along with oldest child Martha and youngest Grace, travel to Enid, Oklahoma to visit with Alafair's sister Ruth Ann and to help her while she is dealing with the coming death of her husband Lester. Ruth Ann's daughter, Olivia, and grandson Ron are also in and out of the house but Olivia's husband Kenneth is mysteriously absent.

The settings for these books is a time period not covered by a lot of fiction, it is 1915, Oklahoma has only been a state for a few years and as the new century develops life and lifestyles are rapidly changing. Alafair's children are getting jobs and education that was often absent from farming family lives when she was young. Her older daughters also have jobs outside the home which was almost unheard of in the last century.

There is some great history here, the speeches of Eugene Debbs, the books of Mark Twain, and the lives of those who worked the dangerous oil fields. All are woven almost seamlessly into the narrative of the story.

I can't wait to read the next in the series. ( )