When Walls Talk: A Historical Detective Mystery

by Suzanne Rudd Hamilton

1950s reporter May Beck never gives up. She uses her noggin, iron-willed moxy and her own set of rules to relentlessly collect clues that lead her to the culprit. And she'll do or say anything to get to the truth, no matter the cost. So when a mysterious clue from the past leads her one clue at a time to the trail of a criminal enterprise, she'll risk everything to catch the criminal and save an innocent victim. But will attempts on her life dissuade her? Will she crack the case before it's too late for the innocent woman? And who can she really trust?

When Walls Talk is the second book in the Beck's Rules Mysteries Series and a prequel to the first book, taking you back to the beginning of how May Beck started and developed her reputation as a no nonsense reporter in the man's world of 1950s and 60s newspaper reporting.

157 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2024

About the author

A friend once told me "Love what you do and you will never work a day in your life."

I always wanted a mantra that I could truly believe and live every day. I spent my first career in journalism, public relations, real estate, and marketing, trying to find my bliss. But other than raising my children, I only had bouts of loving my various careers. It never lasted, but you have to make a living.

Now I'm in my second career, the search has ended. I moved from Chicago to the year-round warmth and gentle breezes of Southwest Florida. And I am doing things I have always wanted to do, just for the love of it. I am writing fictional novels, children's books, short stories, and essays that relate and retell everyday life experiences in a fun-filled read. I am writing, directing, and acting in a series of mystery "whodunnit" plays. And I am continuing my first love of singing. Now, I have a mantra. I am happily living my best life, as I know it.

I write what I feel and whatever pops into my head, across many genres, with a singular identity...I like to tell everyday people's stories through fiction with heart, humor, and humanity, and all the flaws, choices, and discovery that come with their individual journey.
I invite you to come along for the ride with me and meet some interesting people you may know or would like to know. It may even be you. I promise to try to make you laugh, love, and feel, and I will try not to bore you. I would be honored to be your guide. Welcome.

Reviews

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very enjoyable cozy mystery!

It is written in the first person, and therefore very easy to follow. In particular, I like how the author let you into the mind of the journalist and gives little rules for solving the case throughout the book. This made the book very easy to follow and also helped keep my attention through this fast paste plot.

I think it was exceptionally well written and they look forward to reading others by this author.

I recommend!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[PridePrejudice · Rating 3 out of 5]

After learning that the author writes middle school books, this story made more sense to me. It read like a "story" - something you'd tell a group of kids. There was very little extraneous descriptions of places, people or things. Conversations consisted of one or two lines. It moved at a frenetic pace. And there were so many unbelievable items in it. It also was very heavy on the cliches and followed closely the stereotypical mid-century slang surrounding newspaper rooms that you may find in movies or tv shows.

While I appreciated the plucky heroine and her strength of character in a job that was considered a man's world, the leaps in logic, randomly falling into clues and basic lack of background information or deduction is what is prompting my 3 stars. If I was given this book and said it is for middle schoolers, I would have approached it differently and perhaps given it more stars for the genre but it is purported to be a novel. I feel like calling it a novel is a stretch. It's a pleasant story that, if you don't care too much about pacing, details or leaps in logic, could satisfy a certain type of reader.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Anke · Rating 5 out of 5]

“When Walls Talk” is a prequel to “Beck’s Rules”. I read Beck’s Rules first since the author suggested it, and I am so glad I did! It deals with a cold case, the disappearance of May Beck, and what happened during the time leading up to May’s disappearance. I loved it, and by the end, I was sorry that I did not get to meet May when she started as a quirky and driven journalist. But then comes “When Walls Talk,” and we are properly introduced; what a woman!

The story is a delightful, cozy mystery set in the charming year of 1959. It is a quick, enjoyable read about May’s early beginnings as a journalist and the friends (and enemies) she makes along the way. The inclusion of May’s journalistic rules sprinkled throughout the book was an added bonus!

Many thanks to BookSirens and Level Best Books for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review. And thank you, Suzanne! I am eagerly anticipating the chance to pick up “Collection of Lies” and delve deeper into May Beck’s world!

[Angelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suzanne Rudd Hamilton can write anything—romance, family sagas, women’s’ stories and mysteries. Her Beck’s Rules mystery series is a dual timeline series with City Editor Buc Edwards trying to solve the 50-year-old disappearance of his mentor May Beck. The other part of the timeline involves May’s investigative journalism and mystery solving.

When Walls Talk is the second book in the series, but the story takes place before the one in Beck’s Rules. We get to meet May and follow her as she relentlessly pursues a story about counterfeiting, murder and the plight of a young woman unjustly thrown into a mental institution.

Like in all of Ms. Hamilton’s books, the characters are so well written and realistic that you can’t help getting emotionally invested in them. Her historical research is impeccable. You really feel like you’re walking the streets of Chicago with May and Buc. This is a fantastic book in a fantastic series, and I can’t wait for the next installment.

I received an advance review copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book digitally as an advance released copy from Booksirens. I found this book to be an easy read that drew me in from the start. I enjoyed the main character’s moxie and her can do attitude; she takes an idea and runs with it. Her rules also helped tie in information to make it better to understand her process. The band of characters are a great supporting cast to the main character. The book moves quickly, and I understand this is the 2nd book in the series even though it is a prequel to the 1st book in the series, this could explain the lack of development of the main character in the beginning. Instead the book revealed things about the main character, May, throughout the book which worked for the story and the mystery. The ending was good, not overly surprising, but it did present some mystery. I do like how this story ended and I look forward to reading other books in this series following this spirited reporter.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting look at the life of a female reporter in "the good Ole days". May is tenacious and not afraid to go where danger lies. It was interesting to see how May made connections to help her with her job as a reporter. She knows where to go to overhear gossip that gave her leads. She found a mole and uncovered crime. I enjoyed her moxie and meeting Kat, her new best friend.

A fast paced intriguing read. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest opinion .

[Jann Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

May Beck is a newspaper reporter - in the 50s and 60s. She's the only female because - hey - women are supposed to be at home, cleaning house, etc. But May is determined to prove that she is as good a reporter as any man. This is the 2nd book in the series but I couldn't detect any loss from not having read the 1st book. May reminds me of a Nancy Drew character except a few years older. I personally like that it's a cozy mystery without any *** language.

It's easy to determine the perpetrator, but you'll never guess who the informer is. Lovely quick read.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite enjoyable. It was fun immersing myself into the world of the 1950s with May keen to make her mark as a newspaper reporter. I enjoyed getting to know her various rules as she finds herself investigating a prominent family and a counterfeit operation. I would definitely read more in this series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Geraldine Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting account of a female journalist's life in the 1950s.

The cases she had to solve were quite intriguing and her experiences at times, quite harrowing. Some of the chapters start with a rule by which the protagonist May Beck lives her life. On her way through she makes some friends and a few enemies.

I enjoyed this book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jane Verco · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very easy read, well written as I have come to expect from this author. The main character, May, is gutsy and will have a go at anything. She uses her wiles and her connections to further her leads in her investigations, and the storyline keeps you well engaged throughout. I look forward to what comes next in this series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

an intriguing bit of cozy murder mystery with a news gal you'll realy want to get to know the vibrant, colorful and quirky characters might be what draws you into this fabulous cozy but it's the plot that will have you reading late into the night not able to put it down captivated turning exciting page after intriguing page until you've reached its unexpected and climatic conclusion. Acquire " When Walls Talk " for hours of intriguing and enjoyable entertainment. Kat

[Katrina Freckleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I enjoyed this so much, I read it in one day. The author writes as if May Beck is talking directly to the reader and she is one determined gal. I admire her greatly and hope I can read any follow up novels. Its very easy to read and follow with funny bits thrown in with the serious. The rules throughout are a quirky idea and May lives by them giving an insight into the making of her character.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book.
A nice historical crime fiction novel set in the world of journalism at a time when women were not usually there. May is a strong feisty lead character who is very likeable, and the plot moves along at a good pace.
I had not read the first book in this series, but that didn't deminish my enjoyment of this one at all
Looking forward to reading the next installment.
Thanks to Book Sirens for introducing me to this book and author.

[Mrs K.Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Walls Talk is a great story about May who starts a new job as a journalist. She moves to a new house and starts to clean draws and scrapes layers of paper from walls. She find a letter and starts to investigate. The trail she follows is very complicated as she does not know who she can trust.

Excellent story and series which I highly recommend that you read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Becky Durstenfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very quick easy enjoyable read. It is a clean story with no foul language and no romance. But it is fun following the woman reporter. There is no mystery as to who the criminal is, but there is a mystery of who the informer is.

[Lee Murray Brazos Booksellers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A snappy little read, hard boiled and fast.

Not too much to slow you down. The story is fast with more turns than a roller coaster. Not much in the way of twists, though. The adventurous reporter sails through clues like a hot knife through butter.

Good little read. Well written and tightly plotted.

Recommended.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.