A Town, a Disappearance, and a Cat Murder, Mystery, Gay Romance, LGBTQ Fiction
JMS Books LLC
Dec 30, 2023
Kindle
224
Amazon
My name is Shaun Marlow and I write mysteries. When I inherited my grandfather's house, a couple of miles from the town of Winterdale, I packed up and moved into it. I wanted the serenity of small town life and chance to fully involve myself in my writing without the distractions of city living. Little did I know that wasn't going to happen.
Within a few days of the move I met three men, all gay but then so am I, and we became friends. I had no expectations of more because I find relationships almost impossible to maintain -- my fault, I know, but it is what it is.
I also met a stray cat. I named him Laird after he decided I was going to be his person. If it wasn't for him things might have turned out quite differently in my new life.
Then there was the disappearance, and ultimate murder, of Norma Willows, the town gossip and flirt. I became involved because she came on to me more than once. Lucky me? One of my new friends was the sheriff, Alan Quinn, who didn't really object when I stuck my nose into the case, once he decided I hadn't killed her.
Last but not least, I managed to obtain a stalker, much to my and Alan's dismay.
Yes, my new life was definitely turning out to be much more interesting than I'd expected.
DUAL Review by Linda Tonis
Shaun Marlow is a mystery writer that has just inherited his grandfather’s home and all his assets. He and his grandfather had one thing in common a dislike for Shaun’s father, why his grandfather and his son didn’t get along may have to do with his parents disinheriting him when that three-letter word which has destroyed many families came to light GAY. Shaun’s parents showed little or no emotion his entire life, something that affected Shaun his entire life.
Now away from the city and settling into a life in the quiet town of Winterhaven he knows that he will have time for his writing and time to get some enjoyment out of life. He is as happy as he has ever been, no relationships since expressing himself on a personal level is impossible for him thanks to his upbringing but what he can’t put into words verbally he has no problem expressing on paper.
Many of the inhabitants Shaun is familiar with since he visited his grandfather and was introduced to them. Many also remember Shaun and are happy to welcome him. He makes friends with Jason Edwards whose parents own the grocery store, Robert Adams who owns the hardware store and like Shaun both men are gay. It was at the bar having a drink with Robert that Shaun became acquainted with Norma, the town gossip and flirt. The only thing a man must be is alive, married, single, older, younger makes no difference and now she has her eye on Shaun. This is a meeting that will lead to murder and finding a man he wants to change for and have in his life, Sheriff Alan Quinn.
After the argument at the bar Norma disappears until her body is found and the list of suspects keeps growing. Men she has threatened after they end an affair, wives of the men who fell under Norma’s spell and then threats to Shaun to stay out of what is happening and damage to his home. As a mystery writer Alan welcomes any advice that Shaun can give and together, they begin the slow process of interviews, finding evidence and discovering who Shaun’s stalker is.
One of the best things to happen to Shaun in addition to finding Alan is Laird the cat who decided Shaun was his person and it was mutual. I would so love to have a cat that warns of trouble, follows me everywhere I go and is protective and loving everything Laird is and more.
As interviews and evidence comes to light suspects are eliminated fingerprints found in Norma’s home don’t prove anything definitive since most of them belong to men and it is not surprising, they would be in her home after having an affair with her. The fingerprints of women are easily explained so the more they dig the more questions that come up.
I must admit that the person I was sure was the murderer was not and the real murderer was someone that I barely gave a thought to. Which means Mr. Kendrick wrote a wonderful who done it and the answer didn’t come till the end. The relationship between Alan and Shaun is a slow moving one, neither are in a rush and although Shaun is beginning to open up emotionally, he still has a way to go.
This was a mystery well worth your time, wonderful characters and an interesting investigation into finding a murderer.
DUAL Review by Gloria Lakritz PRG First Dual Review of 2024 !!!!
This book was amazing, from the first page to the last. It has so many feels,, to draw you in. Shaun was a boy thrown away by his parents because he was gay. This did change his life in many ways with who he was. His grandpa was not happy with his father and was very close to the boy and when he passed he left EVERYTHING he had to Shaun. How he was raised by strict parents hardly daring to show much emotion to each other, let alone to a child has hurt him dearly in relationships. He has had lovers but has failed because he gets so far into a relationship and cannot give a partner more of himself, having them leave him.
A Loner now in his thirties, Shaun has made a name for himself as a Mystery Writer, having no attachments, living in a small apartment in the city. He has now inherited his grandfathers house and all his assets as he passed away suddenly. Shaun has decided to move to the country. Nothing is keeping him where he is and Winterhaven will allow him to have a new life.
He is not a stranger to the town as he visited his grandfather many times as a kid, and has met many of the townsfolk growing up. As we see many remember him and are most welcoming. Within a week he has made a few buddies, Robert Adams the Hardware store owner, Jason Edwards the son of the Grocery Store owner and Alan Quinn the young town sheriff. Funny that they realize each of them is gay.
Meeting Robert at a local bar Saturday night for a drink, after moving everything into his new home during the week he again meets the ‘town hussy’ Norma Willows who was all over him and very drunk. The bartender Frank intervened and helped her to the door.
I must interject Shaun now has a kitty. It adopted him when he was waking on his property and within a day or two made Shaun his person. I loved it Shaun having a buddy….The name Laird was bestowed on him with the help of Sheriff Alan.
This was all we needed for us to have the bomb drop, three days later Norma Wilson has not been seen since Saturday night and we have a mystery to solve…..We have two mysteries to solve, the second you will learn as you read further. But, both of these things bring Alan and Shaun closer. I loved how Alan respected the gifts Shaun could bring to the disappearance, then the rest of the investigation. Being a young sheriff in a small town, Alan did not have the experience needed to think of solving a crime. But murder, mystery writer Shaun has researched much for his writing. The Duo begin a search and Investigation of the missing woman, and Shaun’s stalker.
The give and take and trust was growing as Shaun explains to Alan his short comings and how both of them work towards a relationship. The have time….Hope they get it right and we have a Book #2….
Edward Kendrick 5 Stars Well Deserved or First Dual Review of 2024