Calaveras

Calaveras Crime #2

by Lisa Michelle

Deep in the backwoods of Calaveras County accidents happen. For gritty rancher and soon-to-be grandmother Kate Dunnigan, these deaths are mostly good old cowboy justice—until the day that justice hits home. Kate’s idyllic façade is destroyed when Emma Lee, her pregnant daughter, is wanted for murder. On the run and fighting to survive, Emma Lee is haunted by filthy family secrets, but Kate will stop at nothing to save her from life in prison, even if it means using herself as bait.

383 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2023

About the author

Award-winning screenwriter, filmmaker, and bestselling author Lisa Michelle traded rodeo spurs for hiking boots three decades ago. Her debut thriller Calaveras became an Amazon instant bestseller, launching the successful Blue Mountain and the Calaveras Crime Series. After being snowbound without electricity during winter 2023, she penned The Lonesome Dark. Her recently released and only work of nonfiction, True Nature: Hidden in the High Sierra, earned a PenCraft Best Book Award. This former rodeo cowgirl and mother of two feeds her creative fuel with long wilderness hikes, raging snowstorms, and fly fishing.

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the unpredictability of this story. There were so many twists and turns that I couldn't stop reading because I needed to know more. This was truly an entertaining book.

[Andie Stillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was sooo good it kept me entertained the whole time and I could not stop reading it



Definitely reading more of her books

[Illustrious Illusions · Rating 3 out of 5]

a twisty turny family drama. The characters are a bit over the top, but there is a lot of misdirection and things going on to keep a reader engaged.

[KerryO · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a roller-coaster of a story...I couldn't not stop until I finished! An extremely complicated mother and daughter story that speaks of the unbelievable love of a mother for her daughter and all of her efforts to protect her child.

[Allyson Abu-Hajar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story starts off with Joe Quick, who refers to himself as a bullfighter, not a clown, has conned his friend Roper to do some gambling. According to Joe, the priest in charge isn't one to mess around with, and despite that fact, Joe has an ace up his sleeve--literally. Things take a turn for the worst, and Joe and Roper make a run for it.

Then Joe returns to the church later, and the priest hands him his share. Roper has no idea that he's been conned again.

Joe is married to Emma Lee (Em), where they live on her mother's property in an Airstream. Em shares the news that she is pregnant, and Joe hands her the money telling her it's the down payment for their cabin. No sooner does Joe arrive, when he has to take off again, to round up missing cows.

Roper shows up making an allegation about Joe cheating with his sister, and that his father is filing a report and Joe's going to jail, unless he finds him first. An emotional Em makes a call to her father.

Joe's horse turns up with dried blood on his legs. Kate Dunningan, Em's mom, figures it was cowboy justice done to Joe for his sins. Kate calls her brother, Patrick for help. Then Roper's sister is attacked in her home, and the sheriff wants to haul Em in for questioning, after everyone saw Em arguing with Roper's sister. Kate, in trying to protect her daughter, and unborn grandchild, pleads guilty.

Once Kate pleaded guilty, there was twist after twist which had me start questioning everything, up until the point of a surprising reveal. This story has intrigue, mystery, heartbreak, surprising turns, the depth of a mother's love, and a little woo-woo thrown in.

I requested and received an ARC from NetGalley via BooksGoSocial and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.

[Debbie Loader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed that and devoured it in one day! Katherine, the mother, has her own issues and secrets and she will do anything to protect her daughter Emma Lee.

Emma, her husband Joe and her mum Kate all live on the ranch in Calaveras, the ranch that Kate bought with her husband Will before he walked out 14 years ago to return to his home in Australia. Joe and Emma live in a jetstream until they can raise the money to build their home, a log cabin. But he needs to get a wiggle on as Emma is pregnant. Roper, his best friend and confidante is helping where he can.

Joe is on the range collecting stray steers and camping under the stars, when his horse returns covered in blood a search is set but Kate sees something in Emma that worries her.

But Emma Lee, in her time of need has found someone to confide in, someone her mother would not like, someone with an Aussie accent.

[Nancy Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Give it a chance

I was really surprised how much I enjoyed this book. I rarely write reviews but felt I had to help promote it. Such a tragic story and I felt the characters, however damaged, were relatable. Give it a try!

[Vaughn Tribble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ribbit

Interesting reading. I suppose not using first names of some our locals works. Your knowledge of this community is impressive. How much was research and how much just growing up with it?

Vaughn

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am going to be honest. I picked up this book because the author is a member of a book club I attend. However, I found it very hard to get into. The first chapter (maybe even 2) was boring. The story lines are very creative and intriguing. I just did not connect to the setting personally. Once I reached the chapters where the storyline began, I was interested, but it did not pull me in to the point where I could not put the book down. Unfortunately for me, the short, incomplete sentences really threw me for a loop. Also, there is a point in the book that the author uses the language “gender bender,” and while it may be correct vernacular for the setting, it did not sit well with me and honestly bothered me for the rest of the book. I also prefer conversation in a book, and there were a lot of descriptive paragraphs. There is also a whole chapter that focuses on how Kate met her husband that I could have done without. However, with all that being said, I was able to still give this book three stars for the creativity, and the fact that there a murder mystery that left me wondering who had done it!

[Erin Summers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio
I'm not sure if Kate is supposed to be a flawed protagonist but I certainly would describe her as one. This was more family drama, in my opinion, than psychological thriller but was entertaining nonetheless.

I really need to stop reading stuff that takes place in a psych hospital because I find myself overthinking and critiquing rather than just enjoying the ride and it takes me out of the stories a bit.

Overall, a decent twisty, dramatic listen.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book, a bit long

Good book. I liked the characters. It was a bit slow at times and felt like it went on and on towards the end. I felt some parts could have just been
left out. Overall a good book.

[DORIS ROMERO · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calaveras

Overall, I liked this book. A lot of unexpected twists. But there were spelling errors and I also didn’t like the way the author switched from one character the the next. It wasn’t a smooth transition.

[Kathleen Bohle · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow

This was an amazing, sad story. I had such hope for Em that life would turn for her and her mother. Even though you know it was wrong, I was just so happy the bad was punished, but the cost was high. Lisa Michelle is a wonderfully talented writer with a great imagination.

[Becky Hammack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it a little hard to get into, but once I did, there were so many unexpected turns. I would recommend it!

[Linda Srickland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story

The story was very good. I didn't expect the ending so I was completely shocked at the outcome. Needs a little better proofreading but otherwise a good read.

[Mary V Calderon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

Happiness and grief; well crafted and well written . Could not put it down. Carry on the good work Lisa Michelle.

[Donald Maben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calaveras

Good read, never know what is coming next . Looking forward to the next book. It's fun reading about locations your familiar with

[Kathy Garlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

It kept me interested

[Jerry]

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