Antiques can be a dangerous business. Especially when you're dealing with a desperate politician, a sexy ex-cop, and a couple of "spirited" companions.
Anna Yesterday owns Yesterday's Antiques in small town USA. When she finds an old newspaper clipping lining the drawer of an antique dresser, she realizes she's never heard the horrible story of rape and suicide detailed on the yellowed newsprint. So she starts to dig, and her sleuthing exposes an ugly cover-up that casts the residents of Crocker, Indiana into danger and intrigue, and leaves them with a corpse.
USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Sam Cheever writes mystery and suspense, creating stories that draw you in and keep you eagerly turning pages. Known for writing great characters, snappy dialogue, and unique and exhilarating stories, Sam is the award-winning author of 100+ books.
Yesterday's News is a fun cosy mystery with a couple of great ghosts. Anna Yesterday owns an antique shop in small town Crocker Indiana. Two resident ghosts are linked with the shop and their dialogue is superb. Language from yester-year with a full glossary of words at the beginning make their colloquialisms amply fit their characters. For instance;
"The boy's a grafter. He'll hornswoggle ya faster'n I can spit tobacco into that pan over there"
The storyline follows the discovery of an old newspaper story, which has been covered up by the townsfolk and when Anna begins some sleuthing to find out the truth she upsets more than one local. It's not just the ghosts that appealed to me, there is Pierce an autistic young man and I was rather taken by Mrs Baker's fierce family loyalty and hard working beliefs.
With the help of ex-cop Pratt Davies, Anna digs deep into Crocker's past and exposes a dirty tale that many would rather forget. A well written story which left me smiling, sign me up for more.
My Disclaimer: I was provided a free copy of this book from the author’s newsletter. I am providing an honest review for which I am receiving no compensation of any kind. All opinions are fully my own. ~ Judi E. Easley for Blue Cat Review
My Review: ✭✭✭✭✭ This cozy mystery has it all! Sam Cheever is a prolific author in the cozy genre. If you aren’t au courant with cozies, you really should check out what’s there. It’s a world all its own, and it’s a rich gold mine!
Anna Yesterday is the owner of the antique store. Her “guardian angel” is a hunky cowboy ghost she wishes weren’t a ghost. His sidekick is a snarky saloon girl who also happens to be a ghost. Anna’s recently hired a guy who seems too good to be true. And you know what they say about things that seem too good to be true…
Then there’s the newspaper article Anna finds in the old chest she bought the other day from a local family. It’s all about a rape in town, but she’s never heard this story. Given that it’s about the former mayor, whose son is the present mayor, she can’t understand why she’s never heard the story. Inquiring minds want to know…
Anna and her new hire, Pratt Davies, get into and cause all kinds of trouble in town when they start poking their inquiring noses into this story. It takes 2 ghosts, a cat, and an autistic teenager to solve this one! It’s dangerous and it’s hilarious all at once. And then there’s just a bit of it’s so sweet, too. But let’s save that for the end, okay? Go get your copy of Yesterday’s News and settle in for a really great read.
This short cozy is the perfect read for someone looking for a little something different to pass the afternoon.
What I really loved about this book was how the cozy murder wasn't typical and the story was beyond fun to read. It isn't quite a cold case, but it is something that was hugely covered up. (So well the family involved didn't expect to hear about it again)
Not the case here. At least after Anna discovers a story on some old newspaper in her antique shop. Oh and while on the subject of her guest shop..there's two ghosts there too, and she's the only one that can see them...OK...there's an autistic young man who can see them too.
I love anything with ghosts and this was no exception; a barmaid and a cowboy no less!
So this book was really up my alley.
There's also a little bit of romance brewing between Anna and her assistant at the shop Pratt
This is the second book in the Yesterday Mysteries. Book 1 is Threads Of Yesterday, which I will be reviewing (Out of order, of course) in the next few days!
Yesterday's News by Sam Cheever Not sure about the rather kitsch title and naming convention for the characters. But ... Loved the concept. I'm not usually into fantasy/ghosts etc, but this caught me up in its web.
Characters were well enough developed and with enough quirks and strange ways of speaking that I could almost see and hear them jumping right off the pages - a bit like the resident spectres.
For example: "You've got that poor cowboy backing and filling until he can't find his hat with his left hand while holding it in his right." Cool, yeah?
Plot was a tiny bit convoluted such that a good deal of explaining was required at the end to tie up the many and varied loose ends. A bit much for me. I like to have enough info to be able to figure it out myself with the showing and without the telling.
Sometimes I carry on about grammatical errors. Kind of like unforced errors in a tennis match. Sam avoided all of these that I noticed, and I usually notice. A nice, if a bit short, story. I'll be looking out for some more in the future.
Yesterday's Lost, prequel - Oh my gosh, this book rocks! The intensity, the vivid descriptions, the hurry up and TELL ME what did it!, all these things eats up your patience in this fast paced, suspense filled story. It's almost with bated breath time in some places in this story; it's been a long time since a story affected me like this. Move over Koontz and King, Cheever can write this genre too!
The author provides information about the characters and the series, as well as an overview of this story, which I appreciate knowing. 5*
Yesterday's News #1 - Read Yesterday's Lost first, there's a lot of foundation for the series, plus it's an awesome read! There's still the intensity, vivid descriptions and fast pace that makes this book difficult to put down. The characters are interesting, lovable or not, and run the gamut of types. The story line is well thought out and there's the twists and turns that's in every good book.
There are so many possibilities where this series can go and I look forward to the rest of the series. The author provides an overview, which I appreciate knowing before I read the book. I've enjoyed all the books I've read by this author and with this series and her Familiar series, she has grown in her writing; and she was good with her Silver Hills series. 5*
Anna Yesterday is not your average antique dealer. She has the ability to see and talk to ghosts which can sometimes put her in odd situations. An old dresser has arrived at her shop and while she is prepping it for sale she finds an old newspaper clipping. It details the story of a young girl who has faced abuse, rape (by a prominent person), and eventually suicide. When Anna decides to research the clipping further, she finds that it doesn’t exist anywhere else and the current Mayor would prefer to keep it hidden. As she digs deeper into the cover-up, she finds herself in danger.
The fabulous cast of characters includes Anna’s “guardian angel” who is a hunky cowboy ghost, a very snarky saloon girl ghost, and Pratt Davies the new hire. For past readers, they will remember Pratt Davies from Yesterday’s Lost. Pratt is no longer a detective after experiencing a horrific situation and has moved to Crocker, Indiana to find peace as an antique craftsman.
The author has a great new series to offer readers. It has well-developed characters that are relatable and quirky, unique and defined storylines, and lots of suspense, humor, and romance throughout.
Not the usual mystery and murder tale but this one involves a pair of obnoxious ghosts haunting an antique store. Enter lovely owner and new to town handsome ex cop, and soon tensions grow between them. But an odd relic shows up in the old antique store and questions rise about local town citizens, with a 50-year old mystery to be solved. Someone wants the old story to die but not everyone agrees, seeking justice for the young victim. Funny dialogue, decent story, with miscellaneous too many edit errors.
A woman who can see and talk to ghosts. A man who is no longer a cop. A decades old crime nearly forgotten but still able to break people. And a new crime spree that endangers everyone. All the components for a thrilling and captivating suspense story, with funny and cool side characters (the ghosts are just great but my absolute favorite is Pierce. He's the bestest!), bad boys to loath and twists I haven't seen coming. I will definitely buy the next one in the series too!
When I am looking for a book to read and it says it is a paranormal romance, I think that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard of, it can't be. I started reading Yesterday's News and was into the story before I realized it was a paranormal romance. I really liked it. This was not what I thought a paranormal romance was going to be. Maybe I will try another paranormal romance. I want to thank Ms Cheever for writing a really nice book.
From an old newspaper clipping comes the story of an act of atrocity witnessed by a young boy and kept secret for many years. Anna decides to try and find out more and uncovers more secrets and lies. Her antique shop holds a secret itself which lends another dimension to the book. The characters are good, as is the plot. It took me, as a UK reader, a little while to get in to the language of the American past but it added to the book once that was established. An enjoyable read.
What a delightful story with rape, murder, betrayal, a feisty antique shop owner, her two eccentric ghosts, her cop-turned-assistant (whose presence makes her tingle), and an assortment of small town characters who will keep you entertained. As usual, Ms. Whenever weaves a tale full of enticing clues and locations that feel familiar. I'd love to visit the town she created. Can't wait to read the next installment.
I love a mystery with a twist, not a plot twist,they all have that, but ms. Cheever has unexpected characters.she deals with more than just her store, her lovelife, and general stuff, but aso with over protective, cantankerous spirits. I like these books very much and if you wat To go along on a fun read, get these books. This is #1, and threads of yesterday is #2. It is a great read as well, but it has more intrigue and danger. Get them both and enjoy!
I was intrigued by the book description and I'm so glad I got this book. It was entertaining with two ghosts and a cat who didn't like men. Only Anna and Pierce could see the ghosts. Pierce was a special young man who didn't like to be touched or to touch things that others touched. The mystery started when Anna found an old newspaper article in dresser someone sold her for her antique store. An enjoyable book.
What a fun story with several ghosts, Anna, the owner of the antique shop, her friends including an ex-cop who is becoming a budding romance, and a strange stray cat. Anna finds a newspaper article in an old chest. This article tells about a former mayor. This leads to all kinds of trouble in town. I really enjoyed the 1st book in this series and look forward to the next one to find what other adventure these characters can get into.
This installment of the series was funny, and witty. The characters Anna and Pratt were interesting and the case they were involved in was plausible. I really like how the ghosts Bess and Joss added to the ambience of the story. Anna's and Pratt's sleuthing skills were believable. I liked that the main characters never did anything dumb. I recommend this book. I am getting the next book in the series.
This book was awesome. I really enjoyed the way the author had the store owner interact with the ghosts. It was different than any other cozy with ghosts and people that can see them. I also really liked the autistic young man and the way she interacted with him(made him feel important.) I also liked the little bit of romance. I can't wait to read more from Sam Cheever. I think I have found a new favourite cozy mystery author. Keep up the good work!
I liked this book, it had a lot of twist and kept me guessing who do it until the veey end. I feel the writer should have been more in-depth with the characters though. I would have liked a better back ground on the main characters and a little more fire bwtween them.
Old newspaper clipping, an 1800's spirit, a murder, and a gun belt.
Start with an antiques shop owner who has several spirits in residence in her shop, a mayor that will do anything to get elected to Congress, an old crime, and murder. How will it all turn out? Read to find out. Good story.
Antique store owner Anna Yesterday finds a page of a newspaper in the stuck drawer of a dresser, it reports a crime From the 1960s. The rape of a maid by then Mayor Bethesda. Was it true? What she sets in motion, with her search for the truth, is robbery, assault and murder.
An okay story, slightly plodding, with characters that are flat.
This was an awesome book!!! 🤗I would start reading and when my eyes started to feel dry I would look at the clock and it would be 3 or 4am I just had to see what was going to happen next. The ending caught me by surprise 🤭😲but it was a great ending. I would definitely recommend this book. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Loved this book. My second book by Ms. Cheever and I couldn’t put it down. Anna Yesterday owns the antique store in town. She recently hired Ex-cop Pratt Davies. She has two resident ghosts in her store. But when Anna finds something in a old dresser that’s about the town of Crocker she wants to learn more. It just puts her into a little danger.
This is the second book about Anna Yesterday that I've read and enjoyed immensely. I love the interaction between all the characters seen and unseen. A little flirtation, a nice mystery and just enough to make you want to read more.
Enjoyable read! Couldn't put it down till I finished it. No gratuitous sex or violence. A couple of fractious ghosts. An autistic boy that the author handled with respect and compassion. Slightly hackneyed storyline but entertaining anyway. Will be seeking out next in series.