Another
Friday is upon us with all that entails… good and bad. Today’s selection, Fallen From Grace, by J. R. Lindermuth
is a complex mystery that has a western
feel to it despite being set in Pennsylvania. It is also a mighty good read.
For more reading suggestions, head over to Patti Abbott’s blog where she will have the reading
list later today.
It is deep in the night October 5,
1897 when Sheriff Sylvester Tilghman is awoken by someone throwing small rocks
at his bedroom window. Doctor Mariner has sent a young boy, Simon Hinkle, over
to wake the sheriff. The good doctor
sent for the sheriff because he is treating a man that has been stabbed. Local
resident Ollie Cramer found the man stabbed out on the road by the new bridge
on the south side of town. A man that the doctor and almost no one else in the
small town of Arahpot, Pennsylvania, seems to know.
Not only does the sheriff know the
name the man of the man, he had seen him earlier with Valentine Deibert. Both
men seemed to know each other and had words with Valentine Deibert looking
absolutely terrified at the end of their meeting. When Sheriff Tilghman asked
him about it, Valentine Deibert totally denied everything and claimed to not
know the man.
The same thing the man had claimed
when Sheriff Tilghman tracked him down at Buchner’s livery. The man told the
sheriff he didn’t know Valentine Deibert and was just passing through
town. Sheriff Tilghman didn’t believe
him then, but couldn’t really do anything about it. Now that the man, who called himself Conrad
Runkle, is a victim of a criminal assault Sheriff Tilghman can investigate and
ask questions. Since Mr. Runkle can’t answer any questions as he lost a lot of
a blood and is unconscious, Sheriff Tilghman will start with Valentine Deibert
and his family.
While Sheriff Sylvester Tilghman has
lots of questions, he receives very few answers in this complex mystery. His
situation with the Runkle case is almost as confusing and complicated as is the
target of his romantic intentions, Lydia.
A story willed woman who seems to welcome his romantic interest,
frequently has him over to meals and clearly enjoys his company, but for
unknown reasons of her own continues to turn down his marriage proposals. A
mystery of its own that has confounded the good sheriff for some time. One that
will have to take a backseat to solving what happened to Conrad Runkle.
This is an engrossing and complex
mystery that quickly pulls readers into the world of Sheriff Tilghman. A world
populated by fully developed characters in all walks of life that give rise to
side stories and details. A world that is slowly changing before readers eyes
as these are the waning days of the telegraph, gas lights, etc. A world that is
full of history and mystery as well as the occasional funny moment.
Fallen From Grace by R. R. Lindermuth is a complex mystery full of twists and
turns. Authentic to its time, the read
from start to finish has a deeply western frontier type feel to it though the
setting is Pennsylvania. The result is a very good read and one that works on all
levels.
FALLEN FROM GRACE
J. R. Lindermuth
Wild Oak Westerns (Oak Tree Press)
March 2011
ISBN# 978-1-61009-011-7
Paperback (also available as e-book)
174 Pages
$12.95
Material supplied by the author in
exchange for my objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2012, 2015
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2 comments:
John Lindermuth is a veteran writer whose work has never disappointed me, and I'm sure FALLEN FROM GRACE won't be an exception. Keep up the good work, John, and I'll keep on enjoying your stuff.
Thanks, Earl. You make me blush, but I appreciate your thoughtfulness and support.
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