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Brad Pope and Sisterfriends Mystery #1
Limestone Gumption
When Brad Pope returns to his boyhood hometown to confront his long-lost father, the 35-year-old psychologist becomes a prime suspect in the murder of cave diver, Big Jake Nunn. Whitecross, Florida, is known for its natural crystal-clear springs and underwater caverns where townsfolk die of natural causes, not murder. Until now. The psychologist's hopes of settling the debt with his father and reconnecting with his cantankerous Grandma Gigi are hindered by the surprised horror surrounding his father's whereabouts and sinister secrets of the Women's Preservation Club, founded by Grandma Gigi.
With its blend of humor and dark plot, Limestone Gumption witnesses beauty and brutality in a small Southern town. This fast-paced cozy mystery's twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat or make you fall out of it laughing.
With its blend of humor and dark plot, Limestone Gumption witnesses beauty and brutality in a small Southern town. This fast-paced cozy mystery's twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat or make you fall out of it laughing.
- GenresMystery
314 pages, Hardcover
Published January 22, 2014
1 person is currently reading
327 people want to read
About the author
Bryan E. Robinson
49 books39 followersAuthor Bio
Bryan E. Robinson, Ph.D. is a novelist, licensed psychotherapist, Professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and a Fellow of the American Institute of Stress. He has authored over thirty-five nonfiction books including Chained to the Desk: A Guidebook for Workaholics, Their Partners and Children, and the Clinicians Who Treat Them (3rd Ed., New York University Press, 2013), The Smart Guide to Managing Stress (Smart Guide Publications, 2012), The Art of Confident Living (HCI Books, 2009), Don’t Let Your Mind Stunt Your Growth (New Harbinger Press, 2000), and Heal Your Self-Esteem (HCI Books, 1991) just to name a few. His debut novel is a Southern murder mystery titled Limestone Gumption (published by Gale/Five Star Publishers January 2014).
His books have been translated into thirteen languages, and he has written for over one-hundred professional journals and for such popular magazines as Psychology Today, First for Women, American Health, Your Health, Natural Health, Total Health, Lady’s Circle, Complete Woman, and Psychotherapy Networker. His monthly column “Mindmatters” appeared in Your Health Magazine for two years. His work has been featured in Town and Country, Marie Claire, McCall’s, Mademoiselle, Out Magazine, Web MD, Shape, New Age Journal, Atlantic Monthly, Good Housekeeping, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Ladies’ Home Journal, Forbes, Fast Company, Fortune, Men’s Journal, Best Life, and in newspapers such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Charlotte Observer, Chicago Tribune, Christian Science Monitor, The Atlanta Constitution, USA Today, New York Post, and The Miami Herald.
He has won two awards for writing: the First Citizen’s Scholars Medal from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte for excellence in scholarship, creativity, and/or research. The prestigious Extended Research Award from the American Counseling Association for his outstanding body of pioneer research on workaholism and the family. He is listed as a leading authority on “workaholism” in Wikipedia where his clinical findings are discussed.
He has lectured across the United States and throughout the world. His work has been featured on every major television network. He has appeared on ABC’s 20/20, Good Morning America, and ABC’s World News Tonight; NBC Nightly News, NBC Universal, the CBS Early Show, CNBC’s The Big Idea, and CNN’s Minding Your Money, plus hundreds of local and national television and radio shows. He hosted the PBS documentary, Overdoing It: When Work Rules Your Life.
He is currently writing a memoir and maintains a private clinical practice in Asheville and Charlotte, NC. He resides in the Blue Ridge Mountains with his partner, four dogs, and occasional bears at night. Visit his website:www.bryanrobinsonnovels.com or email him: bryanrobinson@bryanrobinsononline.com.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 10, 2014
Disclaimer: I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway on the premise that I would review it.
When Big Jake Nunn, former football star and big man around the sleepy town of Whitecross, Florida dies while diving the limestone caves of the Suwannee River, suspicion naturally falls on the man who was supposed to be diving with him, psychologist Brad Pope. Brad, only recently returned to his hometown after years away getting an education and a reputation, had a motive for killing Big Jake, but he’s pretty sure he’s not the killer. Could it be his stubborn Grandma Gigi and her Women’s Preservation Club, who definitely have something secret going on? Or is it one of the other eccentric townsfolk?
This is the first fiction book by Mr. Robinson, but he’s written quite a few non-fiction books, and it shows in how polished the writing is for a first novel. The story flows well, the characters are interesting (a couple of them perhaps a little too colorful, but I’ve certainly met people like them before) and there were a couple of twists I didn’t see coming.
Brad Pope manages to be a quirky protagonist without going over the top; like many psychologist characters, he has a number of issues from his past, and secrets of his own, not all dark. The WPC take up a lot of the story with their eccentric ways, not the least of which is calling themselves “sisterfriends.” Several reviews have mentioned humor; I found relatively little of that, except perhaps of the observational type, plainly writing down the foibles of the neighbors.
I need to issue a Trigger Warning for rape and physical, verbal and emotional abuse in the backstory. One of the themes of the book is how the law enforcement around Whitecross has failed people, especially women. (Though the protagonists wind up taking advantage of the same sort of thing by the end.) There’s also some racism, including by the protagonist, to his shame when he realizes what he’s done.
The title refers to one character’s philosophy of life, which is first stated in a frontispiece to the story, but repeated several times within. There are several recipes, supposedly from the Women’s Preservation Club, in the back, along with some guided questions for book club use.
Some readers might find the eccentric small town characters a bit thick, but I quite enjoyed the book. Recommended for “cozy” mystery fans.
When Big Jake Nunn, former football star and big man around the sleepy town of Whitecross, Florida dies while diving the limestone caves of the Suwannee River, suspicion naturally falls on the man who was supposed to be diving with him, psychologist Brad Pope. Brad, only recently returned to his hometown after years away getting an education and a reputation, had a motive for killing Big Jake, but he’s pretty sure he’s not the killer. Could it be his stubborn Grandma Gigi and her Women’s Preservation Club, who definitely have something secret going on? Or is it one of the other eccentric townsfolk?
This is the first fiction book by Mr. Robinson, but he’s written quite a few non-fiction books, and it shows in how polished the writing is for a first novel. The story flows well, the characters are interesting (a couple of them perhaps a little too colorful, but I’ve certainly met people like them before) and there were a couple of twists I didn’t see coming.
Brad Pope manages to be a quirky protagonist without going over the top; like many psychologist characters, he has a number of issues from his past, and secrets of his own, not all dark. The WPC take up a lot of the story with their eccentric ways, not the least of which is calling themselves “sisterfriends.” Several reviews have mentioned humor; I found relatively little of that, except perhaps of the observational type, plainly writing down the foibles of the neighbors.
I need to issue a Trigger Warning for rape and physical, verbal and emotional abuse in the backstory. One of the themes of the book is how the law enforcement around Whitecross has failed people, especially women. (Though the protagonists wind up taking advantage of the same sort of thing by the end.) There’s also some racism, including by the protagonist, to his shame when he realizes what he’s done.
The title refers to one character’s philosophy of life, which is first stated in a frontispiece to the story, but repeated several times within. There are several recipes, supposedly from the Women’s Preservation Club, in the back, along with some guided questions for book club use.
Some readers might find the eccentric small town characters a bit thick, but I quite enjoyed the book. Recommended for “cozy” mystery fans.
March 24, 2015
Very good characters, Gigi is in her 70s bossy but not crusty. Brad is a psychologist, he's lived in the city and come back to his hometown. His history includes a mother and sister who were murdered by the father. There are a lot of people in the town and a lot of back stories, generally I didn't have trouble remembering who was who. I liked that although Brad is gay it isn't what defines his character, it is incidental and there is much more to him.
The mystery was very well done, took me by surprise, which doesn't happen too often. I'm likely to read the next one.
The mystery was very well done, took me by surprise, which doesn't happen too often. I'm likely to read the next one.
November 29, 2014
One of my favorites! I had the great, good fortune to meet the author at the Decatur Book Festival. His booth showed a wicked sense of humor I could not resist buying the book. I was not disappointed. This book was a roller coaster ride of twists, turns, and rollicking good humor. Who killed the SOB? I'm not telling and neither does he until the last minute. Enjoy!
November 7, 2013
I read this book in a writing workshop a couple of years ago. I can't WAIT to read the final version (coming out in January)! The characters are rich and colorful, and the plot keeps you guessing until the end. A great fun read, but with serious real-life lessons. Well done!
July 1, 2016
A comical, if someone strange assortment of characters in the same vein as Sordid Lives. Reads almost like an HBO or Logo channel series.
June 8, 2017
BRAVO...
Our book club recently read this book. I confess I was skeptical at first. Wow was I wrong. I really laughed out loud many times, and who doesn't need a dose of that these days? It also kept me guessing until the very end. Another reviewer who rated this book as a two said there was "lots of descriptions of Florida wildlife." Having grew up around this area I can say that the descriptions are so much more than that.. He really captured the essence of what it is like there -- and it is a surreal, primeval yet whacky kind of place.
This isn't my genre but I will be reading anything he writes in the future. (Well maybe not his professional textbooks which he apparently does as well, but any fictional work. )
LOVED IT!
Our book club recently read this book. I confess I was skeptical at first. Wow was I wrong. I really laughed out loud many times, and who doesn't need a dose of that these days? It also kept me guessing until the very end. Another reviewer who rated this book as a two said there was "lots of descriptions of Florida wildlife." Having grew up around this area I can say that the descriptions are so much more than that.. He really captured the essence of what it is like there -- and it is a surreal, primeval yet whacky kind of place.
This isn't my genre but I will be reading anything he writes in the future. (Well maybe not his professional textbooks which he apparently does as well, but any fictional work. )
LOVED IT!
June 8, 2017
Loved this book. If you grew up in Central Florida, ever floated down the Ichetucknee in an inner tube, gone caving, or just like suspenseful page turners, read this book.
August 8, 2017
A fun adventure read. I grew up with this dialect & this author nailed it perfectly.
March 12, 2014
Psychologist Brad Pope comes back to his small Florida home town, hoping to find his long-missing father and settle scores with him. But his grandmother Gigi won't tell him what she knows of his father's whereabouts, although she and the women in the Women's Preservation Club are clearly hiding something. Brad thinks that they're covering up something about the recent death of a popular man whose abused wife Brad has been counseling. Of course, Brad has secrets from Gigi, too. Lots of description of Florida wildlife.
will-not-read
June 17, 2014I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12733479
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12733479
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews