A Homeless Man's Burden: She Was Only Nine

by Wesley Murphey

      In August 1960, a little girl was brutally murdered in a Dexter, Oregon bean field. The killer was never found. New murder-mystery novel " A Homeless Man's Burden" by Wesley Murphey  is a fast-moving, present-day story taken from the actual murder that occurred during the hey day of pole bean growers all over the Northwest. Murphey, a Dexter kid himself, picked for many years in the actual field where the girl was murdered, and as a teenager he worked for the girl's father.

306 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published October 12, 2010

Reviews

[Sam Owre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wesley Murphey does it again. Great historical piece which brings in plenty of local references for us Pacific Northwest natives. The story is compelling and never loses traction. Very good character development but not so much that it slows the story down. If you are contemplating reading Murphey's works, don't wait any longer. This guy is a great storyteller!

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept me glued to it! Based on true story in my local area, was so easy to read knowing the area! I love all his books, especially Trouble at Puma Creek the next one, which isn't even listed here yet!!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was loaned to me by a friend. She bought it directly from the author who is a bit of a star in our small little town. The book was a bit sad because it was about a murdered child (based on a true story), but I enjoyed reading about an area of Oregon that I am familiar with. I definitely will read more books written by this author.

[Nancy Korb · Rating 3 out of 5]

:Turn, turn, turn, There is a season, turn, turn, turn. And a time to every purpose under heaven A time to be born and a time to die."

[Steven Howes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe this is the author's first published novel and although not quite as polished as some of the more well-known mystery writers, it is a very enjoyable book nonetheless. It reminded me somewhat of a Hardy Boys mystery and I think even younger readers may enjoy it. The plot involves a fifty year-old unsolved murder of a nine year-old girl and the efforts of two friends to solve the case. The story is set in the Springfield, Lowell, Dexter, Lost Creek area of Oregon: an area I am somewhat familiar with. The only drawback of the book for me were the occasional "Sunday School" lessons the author throws in. However they are not enough to prevent me from reading the author's next book "Trouble at Puma Creek."