Bred to the Bone Deadly Secrets at Hunter's Mill

by Lin Waterhouse

After widowed urban educator Caroline Hudson retires to the picturesque Missouri Ozarks, she jumps at the chance to volunteer at Hunter’s Mill, a renovated, historic grist mill turned popular tourist spot. In an antique safe in the mill’s attic, Caroline and her boss discover a cache of aged, crumbling documents that reveal hundred-year-old secrets long hidden in the seemingly idyllic community. Some people will stop at nothing – including stalking, poisonous snakes, and murder – to bury the truth.

Genres: Mystery

272 pages, Paperback

First published October 22, 2012

About the author

Lin Waterhouse is a freelance journalist and fiction author who searches out the historical curiosities of the Missouri Ozarks region and explores the unique culture of the beautiful hills and "hollers" of the area. In addition to her books, she writes for local and regional magazines and newspapers.

Reviews

[Sonny Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Lin Waterhouse's novel. For me, it was a little slow getting started as she introduced the various residents of the Hunter's Mill area, but then she picked up the pace. And what characters she has created. For those of us who call the Ozarks home, these are some very recognizable folks, from the natives who don't want to see things changed to the "newcomers" fascinated by life in the hills who try so hard to fit in. For those readers elsewhere, these aren't stereotypes. I live in a neighboring county across the state line from where Lin lives, and she's got a good handle on the region and the people.

This is a bit of a mix of genres -- a fish-out-of-water story, a little romance and a mystery. The mystery revolves around the discovery of an antique safe and papers it contains with a genealogy of the area's founding families and potential secrets. Lin manages to blend the story lines together well and give the reader some interesting characters. This is the first of a series, and I hope Lin features different Hunter's Mill residents as her main protagonists in future entries.

"Bred to the Bone" is light reading, a perfect book to crack open on a rainy afternoon or during a lazy day. I recommend it for folks who live in the Ozarks who will recognize some of Lin's local references, and for those who live elsewhere who like a little history with their mystery and romance.

[Jeanie Loiacono · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started reading this novel, I could relate to Caroline in so many ways. It was almost voyeuristic. The VW Bug, reinventing herself again, and cautious, almost cantankerous new neighbors she has to win over or else. On top of everything else, she is working part-time at the mill (the one I actually visited this past Spring which made it ever so much more real) and comes across information someone is willing to kill for in order to keep it a secret. WOW! I could not put it down! I especially liked the snake that hung out in the attic of the mill. Kinda cool to have serpent pest control.
I would recommend Bred to the Bone to all who like a good read. It would be great for those cold days that are coming and for Christmas. Now I want to read The West Plains Dance Hall Explosion…and anything else she has written.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book for the Ozark Settings. She also has a book I want to read about the major historical event in town that has never been solved where I live; A dance hall explosion in the town square in the 20's. I met the author and bought the signed copy when the library had a craft type show. Great book except for a slight bias against Christians or it would be a 5.

[Gene Weinbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Ozarks story, well conceived and written

The story is set in and around an old rehabbed Ozarks grist mill. Makes me think of Hodgson’s Mill or Dawt. It starts by giving us a feel for the area culture and does so through an interesting story. It soon becomes a murder mystery with a thriller ending. Well written. Highly recommended.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting to me because it was about an old mill and there is one locally near me which was like this one. 2nd I am into genealogy too. A woman moved there and some looked at her as a outsider in the tiny little town. She the one who bought the mill where volunteers worked at.
She decide one day to clean out the attic and use that space for another thing to draw in the people to visit the mill. She found a locked safe. They found lost of interesting things once the got some one to open it. Thats when more strange things started happening. Digging into some of the over 100 year old residents family info she realized not everyone liked the black sheep in the families to come out . I will leave it at that. Enjoy

[becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantasia reading

Anyone who enjoys a good mystery will love this book. The characters are vivid and easy to follow. Story line is exciting from the beginning to the end. Good old southern story about family status and pride

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a page Turner!

Awesome read. Read this in one sitting. A lot of this story exits still in our world. Thanks for the great story.

[Zoe Jussel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written mystery with a smattering of history of the Ozarks and its inhabitants.