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Gum Fields and Ghosts
Penny separated from her fiance a year ago. Then her mother died, and she lost her job as a reporter at the Flagstaff Tribune in Arizona.
Her only family now is a half-sister in Ahipara, New Zealand, a woman she met just once when she was a gangly adolescent. But she decides to visit the exotic-sounding country to try and get her life back on track.
She isn’t there long before a body is discovered up on the gum fields – kauri gum from ancient forests that once cloaked the land – and her new friends insist that she use her reporter’s skills to head their investigation.
What did happen to Bethany Adams four years ago? And who is the ex-soldier calling himself Maric who lives in an old fishing shack on the dunes? Everybody calls him the night watchman, but his skills suggest he is much more than that.
A mystery that could equally be a suspense novel.
Her only family now is a half-sister in Ahipara, New Zealand, a woman she met just once when she was a gangly adolescent. But she decides to visit the exotic-sounding country to try and get her life back on track.
She isn’t there long before a body is discovered up on the gum fields – kauri gum from ancient forests that once cloaked the land – and her new friends insist that she use her reporter’s skills to head their investigation.
What did happen to Bethany Adams four years ago? And who is the ex-soldier calling himself Maric who lives in an old fishing shack on the dunes? Everybody calls him the night watchman, but his skills suggest he is much more than that.
A mystery that could equally be a suspense novel.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 15, 2023
62 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 2, 2023
Acquired Kindle edition when offered free on Amazon.
DNF at 65%.
Reads like a book written by someone who has never read a book before. Maybe they've listened to an audio book or they've seen the TV/movie version of a book, but they haven't actually, you know, read a written book. And then didn't get any beta readers or . . . anything.
Characters are all flat as cardboard. Dialogue often in huge long paragraphs with mixed up tags. People doing the same things over and over, saying the same things over and over, thinking the same things over and over.
There's no drama, no suspense, no excitement, no obstacles. Boring, boring, boring, and nothing makes sense. Zero interest in reading anything else by this author.
DNF at 65%.
Reads like a book written by someone who has never read a book before. Maybe they've listened to an audio book or they've seen the TV/movie version of a book, but they haven't actually, you know, read a written book. And then didn't get any beta readers or . . . anything.
Characters are all flat as cardboard. Dialogue often in huge long paragraphs with mixed up tags. People doing the same things over and over, saying the same things over and over, thinking the same things over and over.
There's no drama, no suspense, no excitement, no obstacles. Boring, boring, boring, and nothing makes sense. Zero interest in reading anything else by this author.
April 17, 2023
A pleasant. Murder muster and more.
This book Gum Fields and Ghosts was a informative story of a life syt!e down under. Very well paced and a gathering of compatible strangers to word on a cold case. Vert well written, informative what another country has in the way of country side and how well people can bring out the best in others. A wonderful mystery with quite a bit of background. Very well worth your time to read.
This book Gum Fields and Ghosts was a informative story of a life syt!e down under. Very well paced and a gathering of compatible strangers to word on a cold case. Vert well written, informative what another country has in the way of country side and how well people can bring out the best in others. A wonderful mystery with quite a bit of background. Very well worth your time to read.
April 8, 2023
Entertaining
Standing up for what is right can be risky and create troublesome situations. Amateur investigating of a cold case can lead to more dangers. This is the reporter's story.
Standing up for what is right can be risky and create troublesome situations. Amateur investigating of a cold case can lead to more dangers. This is the reporter's story.
April 26, 2023
A fun read
The author created an amazing and creative plot to go with a interesting group of characters making this hard to put down
The author created an amazing and creative plot to go with a interesting group of characters making this hard to put down
July 12, 2023
Interesting cozy mystery!
August 26, 2023
Good storyline with an interesting, if a bit far-fetched, twist in the end. I was surprised the author thought a New Zealand accent was close to one from Arizona as that is not my experience.
December 27, 2025
Gun Fields Mystery
I quite enjoyed this New Zealand mystery story! The author developed the characters well, and the setting and scenery were well done, as well.
I quite enjoyed this New Zealand mystery story! The author developed the characters well, and the setting and scenery were well done, as well.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews