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Ben Reese #4
Out of the Ruins
THE WILD AND BEAUTIFUL SEA ISLAND WAS A PLACE TO DIE FOR.
AND KILL FOR.
Of all the aristocratic dynasties that once reigned over Georgia’s Cumberland Island, only the Hill family survives. Now they too are threatened. Charlotte, the family matriarch, has died suddenly and mysteriously, leaving her sister-in-law, Hannah, to protect the unspoiled paradise Charlotte had so passionately loved. But Hannah’s own health is precarious, developers are closing in, and the younger generation—charming cousins Mary, Leah, and Johanna—don’t seem to share the family devotion to the land. Even the island folk, some as venomous as Cumberland diamondbacks, are closely watching Hannah’s struggle to breathe. Looks like all eyes are on the Hill house. And someone covets what they see.
Archivist and family friend Ben Reese knows, however, that appearances can be deceiving. And murder can seem so easy and so right when it gets you what you desperately crave.
AND KILL FOR.
Of all the aristocratic dynasties that once reigned over Georgia’s Cumberland Island, only the Hill family survives. Now they too are threatened. Charlotte, the family matriarch, has died suddenly and mysteriously, leaving her sister-in-law, Hannah, to protect the unspoiled paradise Charlotte had so passionately loved. But Hannah’s own health is precarious, developers are closing in, and the younger generation—charming cousins Mary, Leah, and Johanna—don’t seem to share the family devotion to the land. Even the island folk, some as venomous as Cumberland diamondbacks, are closely watching Hannah’s struggle to breathe. Looks like all eyes are on the Hill house. And someone covets what they see.
Archivist and family friend Ben Reese knows, however, that appearances can be deceiving. And murder can seem so easy and so right when it gets you what you desperately crave.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
7 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Sally Wright
14 books38 followersSally Sluhan Wright was born in Hartford, Connecticut on January 31, 1947 to Clyde A. and Marian (Elliott) Sluhan. She graduated from Northwestern University in 1969 with a degree in Oral Interpretation of English Literature.
She authored the Ben Reese and Jo Grant series. Her first book and the first installment in the Ben Reese series, Publish & Perish, came out in 1997.
In 2001, she was nominated (finalist) for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Pursuit & Persuasion, the third Ben Reese book.
She died on June 15, 2018 at her home in Bowling Green. She was 71.
She authored the Ben Reese and Jo Grant series. Her first book and the first installment in the Ben Reese series, Publish & Perish, came out in 1997.
In 2001, she was nominated (finalist) for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Pursuit & Persuasion, the third Ben Reese book.
She died on June 15, 2018 at her home in Bowling Green. She was 71.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 20, 2013
Own on Kindle.
Wow. I'm, once again, wishing I were reading the next Ben Reese Mystery instead of writing a review.
Ben has returned to the States after a sabbatical in Scotland (where he's solved two murders). He's headed to the south to see about a gift of paintings the widower of an Alderton graduate wants to make. He has some other work to accomplish, but his mom asks him to visit his aunt while he's in the Carolinas.
His aunt lives on one of the last privately owned barrier islands and runs a small, family-run inn. The owners of the island desire to keep it privately owned and caretaken rather than developed as other communities or seized by the Federal Government for a park.
This is another murder that could be passed off as a natural death. This time, however, the deceased has MS, and the author works around questions of euthanasia with one of the suspects.
This book delves into questions of personal responsibility whether from the perspective of eminent domain, euthanasia, charitable gifts, self blame, even relationships between people.
My biggest difficulties with Wright's work include confusion at the beginning. I'm never really sure what's going on, who's who, and how the story is going to advance. The other, is that I knew which character I thought was the murderer, but the cast of suspects is so large that I find it difficult to remember who's who. Wright's characters are well written, though. And Ben Reese's systematic way of dealing with suspects is well constructed, not to mention the well-rounded character he's presented as.
On to book #5!
Wow. I'm, once again, wishing I were reading the next Ben Reese Mystery instead of writing a review.
Ben has returned to the States after a sabbatical in Scotland (where he's solved two murders). He's headed to the south to see about a gift of paintings the widower of an Alderton graduate wants to make. He has some other work to accomplish, but his mom asks him to visit his aunt while he's in the Carolinas.
His aunt lives on one of the last privately owned barrier islands and runs a small, family-run inn. The owners of the island desire to keep it privately owned and caretaken rather than developed as other communities or seized by the Federal Government for a park.
This is another murder that could be passed off as a natural death. This time, however, the deceased has MS, and the author works around questions of euthanasia with one of the suspects.
This book delves into questions of personal responsibility whether from the perspective of eminent domain, euthanasia, charitable gifts, self blame, even relationships between people.
My biggest difficulties with Wright's work include confusion at the beginning. I'm never really sure what's going on, who's who, and how the story is going to advance. The other, is that I knew which character I thought was the murderer, but the cast of suspects is so large that I find it difficult to remember who's who. Wright's characters are well written, though. And Ben Reese's systematic way of dealing with suspects is well constructed, not to mention the well-rounded character he's presented as.
On to book #5!
May 20, 2016
I picked this up because it takes place (mostly) on Cumberland Island, Georgia, a place I'm planning to visit. Maybe I needed to start from the first Ben Reese mystery to develop affection for him, but based on this read I'm just not that into him. Narration is all over the place - him, her, mystery person in italics. Phone conversations are depicted awkwardly one-sided. Just not a fan of lazy writing.
December 5, 2017
Another Ben Reese detective novel. In the heady days of the early development in the United States, around the beginning of the Twentieth century, citizens with money sometimes used it to create places and services we now point to with considerable pride.
Moneyed people in the thirties purchase a lot of land along the Carolina and Georgia coasts. Many islands became private land. Some people held onto the land for future family generations, others saw investment potential.
Hannah Hill, descended from the Empire Builder Hill of railroad fame is locked in a battle against developers and what she sees as an evil giant, the U.S. Park Service. She’s bed-ridden, slowly dieing and wants to preserve Cumberland Island from the predators. There’s another family on the island, the Greene family, with long and deep ties to the founding of the nation. So we have the set-up.
Both families have many convoluted secrets and a variety of desires. Unfortunately, this very complex and convoluted situation requires many pages to establish, and it isn’t entirely clear why some of the incidents that populate the early pages are included. Readers will only be patient for so long in reading this heavily internalized novel.
Once Ben Reese arrives, the pace picks up and the action moves smartly along. There’s a wealth of historical fact in this novel. There’s a wealth of other information including short treatises on ornithology, biology and etymology. The resolution is adequate although after the long winding road to reach solution, one might have wanted a richer, more nuanced conclusion. Unfortunately, some of the book is flawed by short diatribes against the government and the Park Service in particular. Ben Reese stubs his toe badly at one point when he states that the establishment of many national parks such as Yosemite were handled properly because nobody lived there. I suspect many native peoples of North America have an alternative view.
May 29, 2022
OUT OF THE RUINS is book #4 in Sally Weight’s Ben Reese Mystery series.
Rating Guide ~ A satisfied 3.5 Stars. This was my 3rd read of OUT OF THE RUINS. Although RUINS wasn’t my most favorite in this series, overall I enjoy the Ben Reese Mystery series very much.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay; 3.5= I ENJOYED THIS; 4= I enjoyed this a lot; 5= I loved this; it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
OUT OF THE RUINS is bk #4 of 6 in Sally Wright’s Ben Reese post WWII Mystery series. IMO, RUINS could be read as a standalone title, but the main character development begins with the prequel novel CODE OF SILENCE, continues in PUBLISH AND PERISH, #1 and throughout the entire series. I love the integrity and complexity of Ben Reese, the main character, as he struggles to do the right thing. The Ben Reese series is a character driven series that digs a bit deeper encouraging thoughtful consideration once the mystery is solved. Readers requiring fast action, page-turning, edge-of-your-seat excitement with unexpected twists and turns should probably take a pass.
Widower Ben Reese is a WWII war veteran. His served as an Army Calvary Scout in Intelligence and Reconassisnce deep within enemy territory which placed him in Normandy the day before the invasion, in the midst of the Battle of the Bulge, and among the first soldiers to discover the victims of the Malme’dy Massacre. During his last battle, Ben was terribly injured by large caliber weapon fire, patched together and then shipped to England to begin an extensive series of reconstructive surgeries and rehabilitation.
Setting ~ Georgia barrier islands, Fall, 1961
Now years later in RUINS, bk#4, Ben Reese is 37, a widower of 4yrs and a well respected History professor and archivist at a small, private college in Ohio. He is knowledgeable in identifying historical artifacts, coins, paintings and documents and is accomplished in quality restoration work. Yet during the evenings Ben still struggles with occasional nightmares and flashbacks from the war and the loss of his beloved wife. Ben is tall and rangy built, intelligent, observant, respected, both a solitary and a reserved man with a few close friends.
In OUT OF RUINS Ben combines a business trip to Georgia where he plans to check out the validity of an art donation to his college with a personal family favor. Ben’s aunt has requested him to visit a friend of the family in Georgia who has just inherited a potential legal headache. Once Ben arrives, the inheritance issues have become more complicated and Ben wonders if he has the wherewithal to sift through sorted history to discover the truth.
What I Liked about OUT OF RUINS ~
1) RUINS (published 2003) is very well written and has held up very well over time. The main characters are believable and the settings detailed.
2) The situation and solving of the mystery kept my interest. I raced through pages to see what would happen next.
3) It is Ben’ perspective in this series that makes it work for me. I need to like and respect the main characters as well as the writing for me to enjoy the book. I find it all in OUT OF THE RUINS.
4) Wright introduces situations that include choices, motives, integrity, humanity, personal beliefs and values in each book. Each time I read this series, I am challenged to not only enjoy the mystery but to ponder more.
Other Comments -
1) WATCHES also provides a sampling of the type of projects and consignments an esteemed archivist who is also an artifact expert, restorer might accept. I found this interesting.
2) Another interesting fact is that Ms Wright created the Ben Reese character after a real person who actually served as an Army Scout Ranger during WWII and was present in the battles mentioned in this series. As civilians, the debt we owe these men and women is immeasurable. (Author notes in closing comments).
Who Might Enjoy the Ben Reese Mystery series ~
This series might be enjoyed by readers of:
1) Classic Mysteries
2) British Mysteries
3) Historical Mysteries (particularly post WWII era)
4) Readers who prefer complicated main characters or character driven novels
5) Readers who enjoy thought-provoking novels vs (or as an alternative to) “action-packed” novels.
6) Readers who enjoy an occasional diversion from their other genres and reading material.
READER CAUTIONS - IMO, appropriate to YA to Adult.
VIOLENCE - PG. Although this is a Murder Mystery, the details are not described in a dark or graphic manner.
PROFANITY - None.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.
Rating Guide ~ A satisfied 3.5 Stars. This was my 3rd read of OUT OF THE RUINS. Although RUINS wasn’t my most favorite in this series, overall I enjoy the Ben Reese Mystery series very much.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay; 3.5= I ENJOYED THIS; 4= I enjoyed this a lot; 5= I loved this; it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
OUT OF THE RUINS is bk #4 of 6 in Sally Wright’s Ben Reese post WWII Mystery series. IMO, RUINS could be read as a standalone title, but the main character development begins with the prequel novel CODE OF SILENCE, continues in PUBLISH AND PERISH, #1 and throughout the entire series. I love the integrity and complexity of Ben Reese, the main character, as he struggles to do the right thing. The Ben Reese series is a character driven series that digs a bit deeper encouraging thoughtful consideration once the mystery is solved. Readers requiring fast action, page-turning, edge-of-your-seat excitement with unexpected twists and turns should probably take a pass.
Widower Ben Reese is a WWII war veteran. His served as an Army Calvary Scout in Intelligence and Reconassisnce deep within enemy territory which placed him in Normandy the day before the invasion, in the midst of the Battle of the Bulge, and among the first soldiers to discover the victims of the Malme’dy Massacre. During his last battle, Ben was terribly injured by large caliber weapon fire, patched together and then shipped to England to begin an extensive series of reconstructive surgeries and rehabilitation.
Setting ~ Georgia barrier islands, Fall, 1961
Now years later in RUINS, bk#4, Ben Reese is 37, a widower of 4yrs and a well respected History professor and archivist at a small, private college in Ohio. He is knowledgeable in identifying historical artifacts, coins, paintings and documents and is accomplished in quality restoration work. Yet during the evenings Ben still struggles with occasional nightmares and flashbacks from the war and the loss of his beloved wife. Ben is tall and rangy built, intelligent, observant, respected, both a solitary and a reserved man with a few close friends.
In OUT OF RUINS Ben combines a business trip to Georgia where he plans to check out the validity of an art donation to his college with a personal family favor. Ben’s aunt has requested him to visit a friend of the family in Georgia who has just inherited a potential legal headache. Once Ben arrives, the inheritance issues have become more complicated and Ben wonders if he has the wherewithal to sift through sorted history to discover the truth.
What I Liked about OUT OF RUINS ~
1) RUINS (published 2003) is very well written and has held up very well over time. The main characters are believable and the settings detailed.
2) The situation and solving of the mystery kept my interest. I raced through pages to see what would happen next.
3) It is Ben’ perspective in this series that makes it work for me. I need to like and respect the main characters as well as the writing for me to enjoy the book. I find it all in OUT OF THE RUINS.
4) Wright introduces situations that include choices, motives, integrity, humanity, personal beliefs and values in each book. Each time I read this series, I am challenged to not only enjoy the mystery but to ponder more.
Other Comments -
1) WATCHES also provides a sampling of the type of projects and consignments an esteemed archivist who is also an artifact expert, restorer might accept. I found this interesting.
2) Another interesting fact is that Ms Wright created the Ben Reese character after a real person who actually served as an Army Scout Ranger during WWII and was present in the battles mentioned in this series. As civilians, the debt we owe these men and women is immeasurable. (Author notes in closing comments).
Who Might Enjoy the Ben Reese Mystery series ~
This series might be enjoyed by readers of:
1) Classic Mysteries
2) British Mysteries
3) Historical Mysteries (particularly post WWII era)
4) Readers who prefer complicated main characters or character driven novels
5) Readers who enjoy thought-provoking novels vs (or as an alternative to) “action-packed” novels.
6) Readers who enjoy an occasional diversion from their other genres and reading material.
READER CAUTIONS - IMO, appropriate to YA to Adult.
VIOLENCE - PG. Although this is a Murder Mystery, the details are not described in a dark or graphic manner.
PROFANITY - None.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.
September 3, 2024
Hannah Hill is found dead in her bed. The cause is asphyxiation due to her long battle with MS. Ben Reese’s aunt Amelia thinks different and askes Ben to investigate.
Hannah has been battling with developers and greedy park service types; both entities are dying to get their hands on Cumberland Island. Both want to turn it into a tourist location for their own interests.Located just off the coast of Georgia, it has been in the Hill family for 80 years and been a private island kept in its natural state. Prior to Hannah’s death, her sister-in-law, Charlotte, suddenly drops dead at an event. The two women, together, were fighting to keep the island intact and unspoiled.
Johanna, one of the nieces, winds up inheriting the whole property. Not sure how to handle all that is entailed, per the will, she calls Ben in to advise her what to do. Under this story he is able to investigate the strange events that have been going on before and after the two women’s death.
Envy, jealousy, greed, family secrets and alliances can be found in practically everyone involved.
Hannah has been battling with developers and greedy park service types; both entities are dying to get their hands on Cumberland Island. Both want to turn it into a tourist location for their own interests.Located just off the coast of Georgia, it has been in the Hill family for 80 years and been a private island kept in its natural state. Prior to Hannah’s death, her sister-in-law, Charlotte, suddenly drops dead at an event. The two women, together, were fighting to keep the island intact and unspoiled.
Johanna, one of the nieces, winds up inheriting the whole property. Not sure how to handle all that is entailed, per the will, she calls Ben in to advise her what to do. Under this story he is able to investigate the strange events that have been going on before and after the two women’s death.
Envy, jealousy, greed, family secrets and alliances can be found in practically everyone involved.
November 22, 2018
This was a disappointment. First, Faulkner and Williams have left no room for a Southern family cozy mystery. Second, the fake Southern accent is far beyond the irritating English accent in Wright's previous book Pursuit and Persuasion.
The history is of some interest but by far the best part is a peripheral thread about art and Audubon's contemporaries. As well, Reese continues to have flashbacks to his WWII scouting in Occupied France, an ugly period which oddly enough I had just been reading about in the latest in James R. Benn's Billy Boyle series, Solemn Graves, amidst the Centenary of the Armistice and Macron's army to protect France from the US.
The history is of some interest but by far the best part is a peripheral thread about art and Audubon's contemporaries. As well, Reese continues to have flashbacks to his WWII scouting in Occupied France, an ugly period which oddly enough I had just been reading about in the latest in James R. Benn's Billy Boyle series, Solemn Graves, amidst the Centenary of the Armistice and Macron's army to protect France from the US.
August 7, 2018
The least interesting Ben Reese book I've read to date
I suspect that setting parts of this book in US South is of little interest to non-American readers &, in this context, the phonetic representation of the characters' speech is just annoying. In addition, few if any of the characters provide much reason to like or even be interested in them.
Fans of Ben Reese may want to skip this book.
I suspect that setting parts of this book in US South is of little interest to non-American readers &, in this context, the phonetic representation of the characters' speech is just annoying. In addition, few if any of the characters provide much reason to like or even be interested in them.
Fans of Ben Reese may want to skip this book.
October 19, 2019
I suspect I might have liked this better if I had read the earlier books in this series.
There is a lot of information about Cumberland Island, which was interesting.
We learn a bit about paintings and selecting pieces for a university.
I loved the maps.
But I did not feel compelled to read at every opportunity. I read in bits and spurts, and that never helps with the story continuity and remembering the details.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
There is a lot of information about Cumberland Island, which was interesting.
We learn a bit about paintings and selecting pieces for a university.
I loved the maps.
But I did not feel compelled to read at every opportunity. I read in bits and spurts, and that never helps with the story continuity and remembering the details.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
May 12, 2025
I hated the writing in this. Any characters thoughts are italicized and there are long passages like that. Also there are tons of one sided phone conversations, just annoying. Lastly, the story itself is neither plot nor character driven. It is slow and boring and so much unrelated narrative is given . The only reason I read it was because of my interest in Cumberland Island, but trust me it’s not worth the read.
October 7, 2024
This book was terrible. Wright was trying to write history, art history, conservation, a mystery…or something. I’m not sure what. I just know she’s a poor writer and I hope to never encounter her again. Oh, yeah - she tried to incorporate a terrible dialect into the conversations. It doesn’t work.
October 23, 2017
Decent mystery with interesting characters.
July 28, 2018
Couldn’t follow this thing. Maybe another time.
October 10, 2018
I usually enjoy this author; however, her cumbersome use of often inconsistent southern dialect in this book was very off-putting to me.
dnf
December 25, 2021A dark mystery. A horse is put down on the page in the first 30 pages. I was expecting something a little more upbeat and this is just not my vibe
February 1, 2014
#4 in the Ben Reese series. Ben Reese, archivist at a small Ohio college, visits his aunt, who manages the inn on Georgia's Cumberland Island. He is introduced to Hannah Hill, bedridden with MS, who asks him to help advise her about how to handle the future of the island. She has inherited a large piece of the island but some has been sold by the offspring of cousins, and neither her daughter nor the daughter of the sister-in-law she inherited from are interested in conserving the island. Developer want to exploit the island and the Park Service is talking about condemning it and seizing it through "eminent domain". With a great deal of history, historical figures and their fictional descendants, author Wright has written an interesting, elaborate, convoluted mystery that is obviously highly personal. A rewarding, though not an easy, read.
Ben Reese series - Bedridden widow Hannah Hill's battle against developers and land-hungry bureaucrats ends suddenly when she dies in her white-pillared mansion ... just after telling Ben Reese of a mysterious midnight intruder.
Ben Reese series - Bedridden widow Hannah Hill's battle against developers and land-hungry bureaucrats ends suddenly when she dies in her white-pillared mansion ... just after telling Ben Reese of a mysterious midnight intruder.
April 20, 2013
In many ways I enjoyed this book; even if it was a bit of a slog. The protagonist is interesting and is, apparently the featured character in many, most or all of her books. He is any archivist for a private college whose many friends and family members go to to solve problems and/or murders. The author made a lot of use of dialect, in this case a Southern one, and it made the book slow reading and, I thought, made her characters sound ignorant. I'm sure that this was not the intention and I'm not in tune with the Southern speech variations so it detracted from my enjoyment. She also skipped from place to place with her protagonist so it was hard to keep track. Fortunately she had a old-fashioned character reference and geneaology in the front of the book so that helped. I'd probably read Ms. Wright again, but not soon; it's too much work just now!
October 26, 2012
Ok,I must admit that the author's attempt at writing southern dialect phonetically is what knocked this from 3 stars to 2 in my opinion. It got on my nerves much more than the "a'talls" in her works set in Scotland. The plot was interesting, and I enjoyed several aspects of the mystery. But the (ineffective) use of the dialect got totally in the way for me. I'm not a reader who needs the setting spelled out for me. If we're set in UK, I can imagine the accent... same for the South, the Bronx, etc.
December 27, 2010
Paper back/would have given it a 3 1/2 stars if that were available.
April 8, 2013
Enjoy all this woman's writing
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews