Sunday, August 29, 2021

Skullduggery copy

About the Book

Book: Skullduggery

Author: Caryl McAdoo

Genre: Christian Historical Mystery

Release date: July 15, 2021

Skullduggery, Small A friend loveth at all times, but a brother is for adversity.

In a decrepit shack on a piece of river bottom property Henry Buckmeyer bought, he finds a human skull with a hatchet embedded in it. Much to Charity Lowell’s delight, her husband Morgan agrees to co-author a mystery based on the find with dime novelist, May Meriwether, Henty’s wife! After digging into county records and interviewing locals, plenty of facts are discovered and blanks filled in. A story takes shape, but is the novelists’ narrative what truly happened? It’s hard for Charity not to get in the big middle of the investigation. After two decades, will they be able to learn who the skull belonged to and who left the hatchet behind?

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About the Author

March 2021 Award-winning author Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory, and her best-selling stories—fifty-nine published—delight Christian readers around the world. The prolific writer also enjoys singing the new songs the Lord gives her—listen at YouTube. Sharing four children and twenty-one grandsugars (three greats), Caryl and Ron (her high-school-sweetheart-husband of fifty-plus years) live in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas. The McAdoos wait expectantly for God to open the next door.

More from Caryl

At the end of DUPLICITY At The Lowell House, book one in my new Cross Timbers Mystery series, Henry Buckmeyer travels from Red River County to Dallas to serve as a character witness in the big murder trial.

At a supper with friends in that book, he mentions he and Levi Baylor found a human skull with an ax still embedded in it inside a falling-down shack on some timberland property they bought together.

What starts out as an off-handed comment—merely mentioned for interesting conversation—turns into a great way to unite four of my all-time favorite characters together again for SKULLDUGGERY In The Sulphur River Bottoms!

Charity Lowell (Cross Timbers Romance Family Saga, book four and DUPLICITY) pulls out all the stops to persuade her husband, salivating to investigate and discover whose skull it is and who left the hatchet behind!

She’s got to talk him into first, solving the mystery and second, writing another novel about it! If only she can convince him to collaborate with May Meriwether, Henry’s famous dime novelist wife, things will be perfect! Just imagine!

Poor Morgan. Strong as he is, he cannot tell her no. He never could. So, with an invitation from the Buckmeyers, as much as he hates leaving home and his own bed, he agrees.

My favorite part is having Henry alive again! SKULLDUGGERY is set in 1866, so he’s still got almost twenty years to live!

—It so hurt my heart in COVERING LOVE (book eight in the “Texas Romance Family Saga”) when the patriarch passes to his reward in 1885. I wept while writing his demise then couldn’t get through reading those chapters at our writers’ workshop without crying—

So being able to resurrect his character in the Cross Timbers Mystery DUPLICITY made me so happy! SKULLDUGGERY became the perfect vehicle for me to be joyful again! Plus, I adore joining the characters from both my family sagas into a new story!

I was right up in Morgan’s face with Charity trying to talk him into going to Clarksville and staying a few weeks to investigate and write that book! Yes, he agreed, but he tells her in no uncertain terms, that’s the last one!

Ah ha ha ha ha! Yeah, right, Mister Lowell!

MY REVIEW

It is no secret that I am a huge fan of this author. I get excited every time a new book by her comes out and this one, oh my it was not just good but exceptional. Having a story in a story may confuse some people, but I found it easy to follow. The concept was brilliant and I loved how the two couples worked together to not only solve a mystery but write a bestseller.

I was excited to find out how they would solve the brutal murder and it really kept me on my toes. Two brothers in love with the same woman can only spell trouble. Sunny Day is a sweet woman whose looks turn heads everywhere she goes. It doesn’t take long for brothers John and James to notice Sunny Day. What I liked was how these two brothers were different in many ways but always looked out for each other. What happens when a woman comes between them? Will they turn on each other or will one bow out?

In the story you can tell that pride is a big factor for both brothers. They have been competing against each other for this woman’s attention and it causes friction between them. Now I don’t want to give away which brother did what because for me that was the best part of the mystery.

I loved how the two couples unraveled the mystery with hints and a lot of investigation. It’s funny how one certain character said that this is the last book they will write. With the gift these couples have, they write a story rich in history and how anger, greed and pride can cause someone to do the unthinkable. It was sad that two brothers couldn’t put their differences aside. I so wanted things to turn out differently. There was so many ways the story could have gone, but when you turn your back on your faith the enemy marches in.

I do want to mention that there are a few scenes that may be sensitive to some. In the story it is referred to as bedding down. I think in all the instances this happened the woman was being taken advantage of. The slave girl wanted to be free so badly that she was willing to do anything. I felt sorry for her because her hopes were crushed and she was used in a sinful way. It makes me wonder if we were held captive what we would be willing to do to be set free?

Every book I have read from this author always blesses me and helps me grow closer to God. This story reminded me to be content where we are in life and to be joyful that we have been set free from our sins.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.