Book review: Sue Hallgarth: Death Comes: A Willa Cather And Edith Lewis Mystery

Death Comes: A Willa Cather and Edith Lewis Mystery

This may contain spoilers

Author: Sue Hallgarth.

Title: Death comes: A Willa Cather and Edith Lewis mystery.

Genre: Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction,

I signed up for poetic book tours and l were emailed off Serena Agusto-Cox about reviewing this book.

Book Dedication: For Hilda Raz poet, friend, editor extraordinaire.

First of all I would like to say a big thank you to Sue Hallgarth for sending me this book and giving me the chance to read it. I want to say a big thank you to Serena Agusto-Cox for contacting me and taking the time to email me.

I would tell people that you should step outside your comfort zone with books because it is good to add more authors and genres to your reading portfolio even if you do not read books like this.

I normally read books of this genre but l also stepped outside my comfort zone l am so glad l did because I have read so many great books and come across some great authors.

I highly recommend this book.

This book has 266 pages and 20 chapters in it.

Advance praise for death comes.

They are back! If you loved on the rocks, you will be thrilled to have this new adventure of Willa and Edith. This time they are in new mexico tracking down the unsolved murders of too many women. Sue Hallgarth has done it again. The combination of deep knowledge of the geographic terrain, it is history, Cather's literary preoccupations, and Hallgarth's feminist sensibility have bought us another suspenseful, terrific read. - Joan W. Scott, author of gender and the politics of history and the fantasy of feminist history.

My new favorite book is death comes! It made distant memories real and simpatico. What a delight to see them and the beautiful taos you let me walk through. I especially want to thank you for including Spud. He was always there, so it is nice to have him recognized. I only knew him as an old man who always stopped to listen to a child. You showed me a young man who would become the one l knew and loved. - Claudia Smith Miller, great-granddaughter of Mabel Dodge Luhan.

Death comes is a clever play on the novel that Willa Cather worked on in taos, new mexico, in the summers of 1925 and 1926, death comes for the archbishop, Hallgarth has done serious historical and cultural research, cleverly highlighting Willa Cather's virtues as a strong-willed sleuth.. this is a very good read, as a story of 1920's taos – including race and class relations, as a portrait of the Mabel Dodge Luhan circle, and, last but not least, as a murder mystery. - Lois Rudnick, author of Mabel Dodge Luhan: new woman, new worlds.

Willa Cather is travelling in northern new mexico while publishing her new manuscript death comes for the archbishop when she and her companion Edith Lewis are caught up in the mystery surrounding the deaths of three women near D.H. Lawrence's ranch. An intriguing story for those of us who always wished we had been there when Mabel Dodge Luhan held court in taos for luminaries of art and literature. - Judith Ryan Hendricks, author of Isabel's daughter and the laws of harmony.

The second book in Hallgarth's Willa Cather and Edith Lewis mystery series captures the vivid and compelling landscape of the taos, NM territorial west. A historical mystery with real people – think Mabel Dodge and Tony Luhan, long John Dunn, Arthur Manby – and everyday life in the settling west. Compelling and richly imagined by a masterful storyteller l did not want it to end. - Betty Palmer, events coordinator, op.cit. Books, taos NM.

Our favorite literary sleuths are back! And this time Willa Cather and Edith Lewis are summering in taos, new mexico. Guests of Mabel Dodge Luhan, the amiable pair are planning for nothing more taxing than a month's worth of writing and painting. Then an unsettling excursion to the D.H. Lawrence ranch changes everything. Entertaining and edifying, death comes is a compelling mystery set in new mexico, that place Cather described as a ' landscape one longed for when one was away'. - Sharon Oard Warner, co-director D.H. Lawrence ranch and author of Sophie's house of cards.

Praise for on the rocks.

“one of ' ten titles to pick up now' … a fictionalized glimpse in to the partnership between the novelist and her artist companion, who team up to solve a murder on an island in the bay of funby”. - O, the Oprah magazine.

Cather fans will enjoy the atmosphere, and Hallgarth captures the local color well, providing a look at the eccentric island residents, the small-town politics, and the life of the (two) women's communities”. - American library association booklist.

The historic, literary mystery is the first of what could be a terrific new series. The settling – on the Canadian island of grand manan in 1929 – is captivating and the story engaging. On the rocks is a real treat!”. - rose city reader.

I enjoyed the run and energy of on the rocks “ - Lucia Woods Lindley, member of board of governors the Willa Cather foundation.

“on the rocks is a riveting addition to historical fiction collections and those with a love for the artistic life”. - the Midwest book review.

“utterly absorbing, compulsively readable. Hallgarth spins her tale with an artistry that allows us to imagine a time and place as compelling as a dream”. - Kathleen Hill, author of who occupies this house and still waters in Niger.

“Sue Hallgarth incorporates the spectacular settling of grand manan in to a mystery set among summer colonies of feminist artists, colorful island types, and suspicious visitors. Cather readers will detect her pronouncements on writing and life, and the island rock itself, a Cather symbol of survival, becomes here a solid contrast to the human foibles that play out on its surface”. - John Murphy, member of board of governors, the Willa Cather foundation.

“on the rocks is sophisticated and yet has a wonderful innocence. It conveys a convincing sense of the period. The characters are rounded, real. It is funny it is compelling. It is a good tale.” - Jake Page, author of the Mo Bowdre mystery series.

Cather afictionados will be especially interested in the author's new take on Willa Cather's personal history. The amible cottage colony on grand manan island in the bay of funby, where Edith and Willa built their summer retreat in the 1920's, is lovingly captured in this first book in a sparkling new literary mystery series”. - Nancy Rutland, founder of bookworks, Albuquerque, NM.

Love, love, love... highly recommended to those who enjoy this historical genre, and to fans of great women authors!. I will be curious to see if ms. Hallgarth has this as the start of a series or not. She is an expert on Cather and cleverly' knows her well”. - Beth's book-nook Blog.

“ The strength of the book is in Hallgarth's ability to paint a scene. Her research about grand manan, Cather and Lewis, and the time period are obviously top notch”. - wildmoobooks.

“Nice read with a beautiful portrait of a Canadian island in the 1920's, a strong feminist portrait of Willa Cather and her partner Edith, and a murder mystery to boot! Well-written with some beautifully painted' scenes and an intriguing insight to the way we all tend to think, wandering from one association to another before we catch ourselves! I've never seen that in a book before and thoroughly enjoyed it”. - David Roberts, M.D., author of practice makes perfect: how one doctor found the meaning of lives.

Synopsis: Following on the rocks, Sue Hallgarth's first Willa Cather and Edith Lewis mystery. Death comes gives us another glimpse in to the life and work of the Pulitzer prize-winning novelist and her talented life partner the year is 1926. Willa and Edith return to Mabel Dodge Luhan's pink adobe in tao's NM. Willa is writing death comes for the archbishop. Edith is sketching taos pueblo and hoping for a visit to the nearby D.H. Lawrence ranch, the previous summer they had stumbled on to a woman's body. Now the headless bodies of two women add to the mystery. Sue Hallgarth presents an intimate portrait of Cather, Lewis, the spectacular new mexico landscape, and the famous artists and writers. Mabel Dodge Luhan gathered in taos.

Review: I found this book really easy to get in to and harder to put down once l started reading it. I would put some essential oils in my humidifier and put the lights on my humidifier on and chill on my bed and listen to music or something on TV. I sometimes light a candle when l am writing this book. It is good to chill reading a good book. My cat sometimes joins me on my bed or one of the other three cats that live me join me. I also took a picture of this book and shared it to my Instagram that l made just for pictures of my books it is called Donnareviewsbooks. My cat Oreo was lying next to me as l write this book review. I sometimes write book reviews on my bed or at my desk in my bedroom that is also my living room, library and my office. I was sad to read that three women was murdered and that people did not know who the women was or who killed them. I hope they find who killed them. I love the pictures in this book. I like that Willa Cather has a life partner Edith Lewis. Willa and Edith sounds like great women and friends. I would love to read more about everybody in this book. Blade sounds like a nasty pieces of work. I think the women who was murdered have something to do with him. Adam sounds like a really nice guy l am glad Maria is with Adam and not Blade because l think if she was still with him she would be dead like the other women. The people who come looking for Blade sound so horrible l am so glad that they did not hurt Adam or Maria. I was sad to finish reading this book. I would love to buy more books from Sue Hallgarth as l got this book for free. I can not put in to words how great this book is l would tell people to read it for themselves to know how great it really is. I was hooked after reading the synopsis. I am so glad that Adam and Maria are going to find Spud and tell him what is going on at his ranch and that the person who was staying there was keeping women that did not speak English and he had threaten to kill them and cut their throats and showed the heads to the others to scare them. It is a shame Maria can not speak English but when they get to where Spud is. Somebody speaks the same language as Maria. So she will be able to tell them what Blade was like and about the other women. I was sad to read that agent Dan was shot but glad he survived. The sheriff of taos sounds so lazy and does not care about the three women because they are unknown and he clearly that somebody shot agent Dan. I was scared to read that Adam and Maria come face to face with Blade for the first time since he sold Maria to Adam. I am glad the shots missed Maria. It was funny to read that Blade's horse ran away after Adam's horse and the mule that Maria was riding. Leaving him jumping up and down in the middle of the road shouting about his horse. I am so glad Adam found it funny. I hope Maria is still on the mule when Adam finds them and she is not hurt. I do not blame Adam and Maria being scared of Blade because he is a nasty piece of work. I hope Maria and Adam make it to Spud before the weather starts because they could get poorly and the horse and mule need to be put in a barn away from the nasty weather. This book is totally addicting and I and I wish l could stay up all night to read and review this book but l get migraines. I am in love with this book. These women are being held against their will. I was sad to read that Florence and Angelica was kidnapped and think they do not have a choose but to stay where they are because they must think that if they leave they will have no money or be homeless but they could end up like the three murdered women. I am glad Dick and Nick give up easy because some of them could end up dead if there was a shoot out. Plus Adam was still injured and Spud did not know how to use a gun.I am glad with the help of Amelia Maria could tell them about Blade and the other women and it was nice that Maria was given one of the other women's bracelet. I also reviewed this book on goodreads, amazon UK and amazon US.

About the Author: Sue Hallgarth is a former English professor she has written scholarly articles on Willa Cather and Edith Lewis, and this is her second book of fiction featuring the two of them. Her first book in the series is on the rocks, set in 1929 on the island of grand manan in new Brunswick, Canada. She lives in corrales, NM.

Follow Sue on Facebook at Suehallgarthauthor, on twitter @suehallgarth, and on goodreads.com and follow Sue's blog, reviews, and other news about her books and writing at Suehallgarth.com.

About This Book: I really like this book cover and the picture of the mountains on the front cover and l love that the writing is in black because it stands out more.

Star Rating: Five Out Of Five Stars.

I wish l could rate this book more then five stars because it is worth more than the five stars l rated it.

Book Review: Simon Laffy: Seed Of Satan

Seed of Satan

This review may contain spoilers

Author: Simon Laffy

Title: Seed Of Satan

Genre: historical fiction, thriller, suspense, military, fiction, historical,

Where l got this book: somebody contacted my sister asking her to review this book but they asked her if she knew anybody else who reviewed books and she said send me two copies and l will pass one on to my sister.

I got this book for free in exchange for an honest review somebody on behalf of the author contacted my sister through her book reviewing blog.

First of all l would like to say a big thank you to Simon Laffy for sending me this book and giving me a chance to read it.

I would tell people that you should step outside your comfort zone with books because it is good to add more authors and genres to your reading portfolio even if you do not read books like this.

I normally do not read books of this genre but l stepped outside my comfort zone with authors and genres l am so glad l did because l have read so many great books and come across some great authors.

Reviews by other people:

Against the background of war torn and embittered Europe, seed of Satan runs a taut journey through 20^th century history, detailing the role and rise of science as an agent of freedom and death. Laffy's prose runs at a high speed as we witness the characters come to grips with what this new power means, reaching a crucible of social and spiritual disquiet on the western

front. - Kailas Elmer, Trebuchet magazine.

Simon is a really natural storyteller, in that he makes you care about the characters and what happens to them. Like all excellent writers, he keeps you engrossed and when you have finished the book, the temptation is to start reading it all over again. A sure sign of quality. - Malcolm Dome, Journalist and Author.

Simon successfully blurs the lines between fact and fiction while keeping within the framework of historical accuracy at the same time making sure the reader is totally engaged. Well done, Simon. - Phil Collen, Rock Musician and Author.

Book Dedication: For Rita.

This book has 285 pages and 12 chapters in it.

Credits: The parable of the old man and the young, plus excerts from dulce et decorum est, strange meeting, arms and the boy and anthem for doomed youth. Written by Wilfred Owen as appearing in “Wilfred Own: the war poems” published by Chatto and windus, 1994 edited by Jon Stallworthy. With the kind assistance of Yvonne Morris of the Wilfred Own association.

Edited by Joy Hutchinson and Peter Barnacle.

Cover design by Ann Beedham.

Publicity by Neil Anderson media LTD.

Special thanks to: Betty, Danny, Cabby and Stevie Laffy, Ed Hutchinson, Phil and Helen Collen, Chris Epting, Reina James, Claudia Cavazos, Malcolm Dome, Kailas Elmer, William Warby and all my family and friends.

Synopsis: Some things should not be messed around with. Somewhere, fools are playing with fire sometimes, a slight mistake can tip the balance. Someone is about to kill us all. Deep in the heart of the Kaiser's reich, scientist's work desperately to produce a form of germ warfare that could provide the elusive breakthrough on the western front, thereby bringing ultimate victory to the central powers. One young englishman is willing to risk his all to try and prevent them from succeeding.

Review: I found this book really easy to get in to and hard to put down once l started reading it. I was sad to read that lady Amelia ambrose passed away giving birth to her twin boys William and Michael .It did not take me long to read this book. I can put in to words how great this book is l would tell people to read it for themselves to know how great it really is. I was sad to read that William's plane went down but glad he survived and the army asked Michael to go back to Germany as William to find out about the seed. It was horrible to read that Michael had to kill an innocent woman to keep his secret. I wish this book would not end. I was really very sad to finish reading this book. I was sad to read that loads of innocent people was dying due to a deadly virus called the seed. It killed any animal or human that breathed it in. I was very sad to read that Michael died at the hands of his brother who he once shared a womb with. If Michael had lived he could of saved all the people who breathed in the seed because he had the antidote serum. I was really sad that all the people who was working on the seed was killed in cold blood but not before Michael was given the antidote serum. Michael did not want to kill any more people. I wish Michael had survived l do not understand how a father can turn against one of his children. William and Michael's father sounds like he only wanted his beloved William and not Michael. I am glad Michael had his mother's family to love and support him. I do not understand how two brothers who once shared a womb could end up fighting against each other one for Germany and one for England. Fathers are suppose to love all his children the same I wish William and Michael's mother had survived their birth as things may have been different. I was glad that William did not kill his wife. It was really nice that she helped Michael. I wish Michael had got to marry Rachel. I just wish William treated his wife better so she did not have to turn to Michael to feel love. I was hooked on this book after reading the first page. When I was reading this book I would put some essential oils and put the lights on my humidifier and chill on my bed and listen to magic or something on TV or netflix. I also put my christmas lights on that are on my christmas tree. I sometimes light a candle when I was reading this book.

About the author: Simon Laffy was born at home in Hoxton, London. He started playing music at fourteen years old, inspired by his musician brother, Steve. He joined his first band at fifteen and was playing in London clubs (Dingwalls, the Embassy, Maunkberrys) before being old enough to be in them. Simon signed his first record deal (with glam rock band Girl) at twenty one years old and toured Europe, the far east and the UK. Subsequently he has played at most venues in Britain. Including Wembley arena, Hammersmith odeon, the marquee club and at the reading and phoenix festivals. His music career includes working as a producer, composer, arranger, performer, engineer, programmer, live mixer and DJ. He has played on fifteen albums and eighteen singles, as well as performing on countless studio sessions, TV and radio appearances, interviews, photo sessions and approximately two thousand gigs. Recently, Simon has formed a rock band, Man Raze, with his former girl bandmate Phil Collen from Def Leppard and Paul Cook from the sex pistols, began a dance album project called pearl avenue with Joel Parkes, the Canadian  singer/songwriter, and started a remix production team called the manic mechanics. He has also formed two record companies, surrealist records and derrida records. Simon Laffy is the brother of Gerry Laffy.

About the Book: I really love the book cover on this book and the picture. I love that some of the writing is textures. The colours of the writing makes the writing stand out more.

Star Rating: Five Out Of Five Stars.

I wish l could rate this book more than five stars because it is worth more than the five stars I rated it.

Book Review: Jeff Russell: The Dream Shelf

The Dream Shelf

Author:  Jeff Russell

Title:   The Dream Shelf

Genre:  Fiction, historical, Science Fiction and fantasy, Science fiction, alternative history, crime, thriller and mystery, military,

Synopsis:  No pictures, no past, yet his dreams were left on the shelf. A book, a trolley car, a framed quote and a plaster bust represented the places Sam’s father wanted to see, the things he wanted to do. But Robert Archer refused to discuss his background, and when he died unexpectedly, Sam was left with the bitter regret of a lost opportunity to learn more about his dad. With the discovery of a hidden yearbook, a list of names, and a government document, things change. Sam’s interest in his father’s life becomes a surreptitious tale that ignites a passion to know what happened to him and why his secrets could not be shared. He embarks on a quest for ‘his story’, one with both the promise of closure and the threat of learning more than he wants to know. The trail leads to Gus, a WWII veteran whose cryptic ramblings suggest a plan to use an atomic weapon against Germany during the war, and his daughter Karen, who is torn between helping Sam and protecting her father. Together, they learn the dark secret behind the Dream Shelf, the high cost of integrity and the lessons a father left behind for his son.

Review:  This book was really good and l enjoyed reading this book and l loved the storyline and l was sent this book for review and l found it hard to put this book down once l started reading it and l highly recommend this book to anybody and l cannot wait to read more from this author and this book only comes in kindle format at the moment but the author may bring it out in paperback or hardback.

About the author:  I am a tale-spinner. My childhood heroes were Jules Verne and Victor Appleton II, architects of fantastic adventures. Hemingway stepped in when I discovered that the trials and triumphs of real people – those with limited physical and financial resources – were even more intriguing than science fiction. Today I try to follow that example with my own characters. They are the ‘you and me’ of the world, ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances, beaten down perhaps and yet determined to succeed. Invariably they find adventure, romance and self-fulfilment, as should we all.

Edition:  Kindle

Star rating:   5 out of 5 stars

Book Review : Anthony Hogger : Warrior King Legacy

Warrior King Legacy
 

Author:   Anthony Hogger

Title:  Warrior King Legacy

Genre:  Literature and Fiction, Action and Adventure, War and Military, War, Historical Fiction

Synopsis:  The ancient tribes of Gaul are in turmoil: Rome is encroaching on her lands, her townships, her way of life. Only one tribe has the nerve to stand up to the threat, the Arverni, led by King Celtillus. But, when he is murdered, it is left to his 19-year-old son, Vercingetorix, to unite the tribes into one great army. Warrior King Legacy is the story of a young man desperate to fulfil a legacy. From the ordeal of his birth, to growing up in a brutal world where only the very strongest will prevail, to the siege of Alesia and beyond. It is a story of courage, of love, of vengeance, and of tragedy.˃˃˃ Praise for Warrior King Legacy It’s an interesting life, being an editor. You get to read people’s work, long before the general public ever see it. Sometimes, it’s your job to tell an author the work is not ready for the general public yet; sometimes you enjoy a book and suggest tweaks that could make it work more effectively. And then, just occasionally, you get to read a book that makes you want to start a publishing company, just so you can get more people to read it.Anthony Hogger’s Warrior King Legacy. The book is a historical fiction masterpiece, telling the story of Vercingetorix, King of the Gaul’s in the time of the expansion of the Roman Empire. Warrior King Legacy blends a story of fathers and sons and the expectation of greatness thrust on a child with philosophical concerns of relevance even today. What do you do if the greatest superpower in the world wants to take your land, your resources, your way of life? Vercingetorix chose a destiny in opposition to the might of Rome, and forged the disparate and distrusting tribes of Gaul into a single, unified nation, then pitted his skills against the armies of the Empire. The armies lead by Julius Caesar. Warrior King Legacy is a book so good that we at Jefferson Franklin read it twice during the editing stage and immediately bought it for the pleasure of reading it again when it was released.

Review:  l really enjoyed reading this book and was easy to get in to and l was really sad to read king Celtillus wife dead in child birth and that he was murdered but was happy to read their son survived. I was sent this book for a review and l am glad l reed it and l was hooked on this book after the first page it was an awesome read and l would love to read it again and again because l loved this book. I highly recommend it to anybody and l wish l could rate it more than 5 stars because it would be worth it. I cannot wait to read more from the author.


About the author: Anthony Hogger was born in London in 1957. He is married and lives in rural Hertfordshire with his wife Jan.
Warrior King Legacy is his first book. He is currently working on a second novel: Thirza Dellow. Set against the Peninsular War it tells the story of a young woman's quest to find her soldier father. I sincerely hope you enjoy my work.

Edition:  kindle

Star rating:   5 out of 5 stars