Review: A Small case of Murder

Joshua Thornton, a former naval officer, makes the decision to give up his Navy career and move back to his hometown of Chester, West Virginia. After the death of his wife Joshua decided it would be in the best interest of their five children to move to Chester and practice law. One of the first things the children discovered when they started unpacking boxes at their new home in Chester was a packet of letters belonging to Joshua’s parents. One letter is unopened and was written by a woman named Lulu and spoke of a dead body found in “Bosley’s Barn on prom night by Lula and Joshua’s parents and Lulu’s friend Johnny. The letter refers to a picture she saw of the man whose body they found. This picture was on the wall in Reverend Rawlings office when Lulu happened to be there on an errand.

Joshua with the help of his cousin Tad who is now a doctor discovers that Lulu died on the very day the letter was written. He also finds out that Reverend Rawlings is rumored to be the top man in the drug business in and around Chester. Tad even suspects the Reverend or his son of poisoning the girl that married the Reverend’s son and was the love of Tad’s life from high school on.

Before Joshua and Tad can do much as far as checking into what actually happened those many years ago when Joshua’s grandparents discovered the body, which disappeared before the Sheriff got there all hell breaks lose in Chester. Rev. Rawlings granddaughter starts a campaign to make public the drug business and the members of her family involved in it. Before the good Reverend’s granddaughter can reveal too much she is murdered. Beth, Joshua’s high school girl friend, is also found dead. Beth is employed at the drug store run by Jan Martin who has aspirations of being an author. It is found Beth has been stealing drugs from the pharmacy.

As Tad and Joshua begin investigating what is really behind all of these strange happenings Jan insists on being involved in spite of Tad and Joshua’s better judgment and of course the five kids are not to be left out. And kids being kids create havoc in their quest for the truth.

This is a very entertaining book that has aspects that would appeal to a wide range of readers. I would enjoy reading a second book by Lauren Carr.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Pat Reid - RAM

Book Review: A Small case of Murder