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Life and Death on the Tamiami Trail
Sheriff Bernie Raines finds herself torn between loyalty to a childhood friend and her sworn duty to uphold the law. The year is 1985, but this incident has pulled her thoughts back to a simpler time full of happy chldhood memories and loving family and friends. A piece of those memories is missing, and though she struggles to bring it to the surface, it may be forever lost in the murky shadows of the past. Bernie enlists the help of her friend Sheriff Buck Davis, and the two soon find themselves immersed in a mystery as complicated and unpredictable as the clan of Gypsies that seems to be manipulating their destinies.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
June 26, 2012
My cousin's first book! She hooked me with a page-turner plot, details of family, and the mildly familiar setting in Sarasota, Florida, but I loved the touches of supernatural voodoo/gypsy fun that made the story even more complicated. Yes, she would benefit from an editor's touch, but I'm still looking forward to her second book. Her long career in the court system has given her lots of material to work with. Keep writing, Sheila!
October 16, 2014
Life and Death on the Tamiami Trail
By Sheila Marie Palmer
This was a charming mystery set in the Sarasota, FL area in 1985. I’d never read any of this author’s work prior to this novel – in fact, I believe she has only one other novel, which is also set in Florida. I did look up her Amazon.com profile and discovered that she is a native Floridian who lived in the area where the novel is set during the timespan (1950 to 1985) covered by the story.
There was very little I didn’t like about this novel. In a couple of the Amazon reviews, reviewers mentioned that they thought there was a bit too much description, and, in all fairness, Palmer does use a lot of description in her writing. I didn’t find that distracting. In fact, the descriptions helped to sharpen my mental images of the surroundings and even to bring the sound and smell described more lifelike. She heightened her descriptions by the use of actual photographs of the places described (or places like them) from the 1950s. Were these her personal photos or photos she gleaned from archives? I couldn’t tell and could find nothing on the subject on a quick internet search.
I found the mystery to be not only intriguing, but fun. Why would a retired mob boss from Chicago be stalking and plotting to kill a Sarasota County Sheriff? How did this murder plot involve the local Roma, some of whom the Sheriff had known in her childhood? How did everything tie into the 1958 unsolved “Mystery Killer” murder? What was it that Sheriff Bernie Raines couldn’t quite remember?
One of my favorite things was the inclusion of the Roma in the storyline, although I do wish the term Rom and Roma had been used instead of the derogatory Gypsy. I suppose, given the timeline, the term Gypsy was accurate. Were the descriptions of Roma life true to form for those living in the area? I do not know. It was simply nice to see the Roma life portrayed in a positive way.
A quick, fun retro read where the author is certainly writing about what she knows!
By Sheila Marie Palmer
This was a charming mystery set in the Sarasota, FL area in 1985. I’d never read any of this author’s work prior to this novel – in fact, I believe she has only one other novel, which is also set in Florida. I did look up her Amazon.com profile and discovered that she is a native Floridian who lived in the area where the novel is set during the timespan (1950 to 1985) covered by the story.
There was very little I didn’t like about this novel. In a couple of the Amazon reviews, reviewers mentioned that they thought there was a bit too much description, and, in all fairness, Palmer does use a lot of description in her writing. I didn’t find that distracting. In fact, the descriptions helped to sharpen my mental images of the surroundings and even to bring the sound and smell described more lifelike. She heightened her descriptions by the use of actual photographs of the places described (or places like them) from the 1950s. Were these her personal photos or photos she gleaned from archives? I couldn’t tell and could find nothing on the subject on a quick internet search.
I found the mystery to be not only intriguing, but fun. Why would a retired mob boss from Chicago be stalking and plotting to kill a Sarasota County Sheriff? How did this murder plot involve the local Roma, some of whom the Sheriff had known in her childhood? How did everything tie into the 1958 unsolved “Mystery Killer” murder? What was it that Sheriff Bernie Raines couldn’t quite remember?
One of my favorite things was the inclusion of the Roma in the storyline, although I do wish the term Rom and Roma had been used instead of the derogatory Gypsy. I suppose, given the timeline, the term Gypsy was accurate. Were the descriptions of Roma life true to form for those living in the area? I do not know. It was simply nice to see the Roma life portrayed in a positive way.
A quick, fun retro read where the author is certainly writing about what she knows!
August 1, 2023
great story!
I picked this up a while back because I grew up near the Tamiami Trail and I couldn’t resist the title. I forgot about it, then browsing through my Kindle library today saw it and started reading. It grabbed me from the first paragraph. Turns out this story takes place in Sarasota, near the Tam(pa) end of the Trail, while I lived on the Miami side. The fact that the book wasn’t about what I thought it was didn’t matter—I started this book at 5 and didn’t put it down til I finished it at 10. Great writing and compelling story. Going to look for more by this author right now!
I picked this up a while back because I grew up near the Tamiami Trail and I couldn’t resist the title. I forgot about it, then browsing through my Kindle library today saw it and started reading. It grabbed me from the first paragraph. Turns out this story takes place in Sarasota, near the Tam(pa) end of the Trail, while I lived on the Miami side. The fact that the book wasn’t about what I thought it was didn’t matter—I started this book at 5 and didn’t put it down til I finished it at 10. Great writing and compelling story. Going to look for more by this author right now!
March 5, 2025
EBK-M, Kindle, @ 1/1/12, Read 3/4/25. Fiction, Mystery, Romance. This was a story about a female Sheriff in Florida having a case fall into her jurisdiction of a man murdered in a tavern, and the accused happens to be a childhood friend she hasn't seen in 25 years. A bit different from the normal Mysteries. There are gypsies, and Indian shaman, and mafia hit men involved. 3☆'s = Good, kept me interested because of the different characters involved.
January 19, 2020
Unusually good.
I bought it because the setting was familiar to a Glades-grown girl. Everything about it brought back sights and people of my childhood. But the twists in the plot, the writing, the characters drew me in and made it a great read!
I bought it because the setting was familiar to a Glades-grown girl. Everything about it brought back sights and people of my childhood. But the twists in the plot, the writing, the characters drew me in and made it a great read!
December 11, 2018
Good book
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself.I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself.I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
December 2, 2022
Well-written and edited with a good storyline, this was a book I didn't want to put down. And it sounds like there's a series in the works to look forward to. Well done!
October 19, 2014
Mysterious Life Mysterious Love
A wonderful story full of mystery, intrigue, and love. Sheila Marie Palmer tells a wonderful story of the life and times of Sheriff Bernie Raines. Bernie finds herself in the difficult position of investigating a homicide allegedly committed by her childhood friend, who just happens to be in line to be the next King of the Gypsies. Bernie is torn between the loyalty to her childhood friend and her sworn duty to her oath of office as a law enforcement official. Along the way Sheriff Raines will find missing pieces to her past and the awesome love of her present and future. Miss Palmer's writing style was so descriptive I could feel the heat and humidity and almost taste and smell the flowers and herbs. I look forward to reading more from this author.
A wonderful story full of mystery, intrigue, and love. Sheila Marie Palmer tells a wonderful story of the life and times of Sheriff Bernie Raines. Bernie finds herself in the difficult position of investigating a homicide allegedly committed by her childhood friend, who just happens to be in line to be the next King of the Gypsies. Bernie is torn between the loyalty to her childhood friend and her sworn duty to her oath of office as a law enforcement official. Along the way Sheriff Raines will find missing pieces to her past and the awesome love of her present and future. Miss Palmer's writing style was so descriptive I could feel the heat and humidity and almost taste and smell the flowers and herbs. I look forward to reading more from this author.
June 26, 2014
What an interesting story this book was. As I live in Florida I was especially interested in the locale. I really liked the switching decades from the fifties to the eighties. The plot kept me spellbound, too, as you knew the murder was not solved. The book also reminded me of growing up in the Florida Panhandle during the early 50s. I would recommend this story to those who like a mystery and want to learn more about the "old Florida." I love the new Florida as well but find I can appreciate it more if I understand how it used to be when neighbors were closer. Back then no one locked doors or windows so as to let the cool breezes comfort you as you had no air conditioning. This book reminded me a little of THE MIDGET HOUSE that was also set in Sarasota, Florida. Good read.
June 28, 2014
Well, I bought this book solely because of the title. I'm a fairly new Sarasota resident, and the Tamiami Trail is a part of my every day drive. So, my natural curiosity got the better of me. I'll admit, after making my way through page 1, I almost deleted the book. Ugh...that first page was hard to get through! But, I'm glad I kept reading. The writing style became more relaxed, and I was able to enjoy the story as well as get a feel for what Sarasota used to be. Not knowing much about gypsies left me more than a little skeptical. So, my skepticism and page 1 kept me from rating this higher.
March 22, 2016
There has been a death at a local tavern and the man accused of murder is a childhood friend of the sheriff. She has not seen him in many years, his grandfather puts up the bail money and asks for her help, and the investigation, aided by the sheriff of a neighbouring county, reveals the target that has been placed on her life, a major event from her past that she had repressed, and what really happened on the night of the murder. The story is interesting but the text would benefit greatly from being edited, and the inclusion of a number of photographs was a strange and distracting choice - you don't include pictures in adult fiction.
July 14, 2014
I PICKED THIS BOOK BECAUSE OF THE TITLE, THE TAMIAMI TRAIL HAS HAD MANY VIOLENT THINGS HAPPEN ON IT. WHAT I HAVE READ WERE TRUE OCCURENCES, THIS IS FICTION . . . I THINK. IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING STORY LINE FILLED WITH EVERYTHING I LIKE A LITTLE ROMANCE, A BIT MYSTICAL AND A WHOLE LOT OF MURDER MYSTERY. I ENJOYED HOW THE AUTHOR GOT MY INTEREST ON THE FIRST FEW PAGES, KEPT IT TILL THE VERY END TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT. LOVE THE OLD PHOTO'S SCATTERED THROUGH-OUT THE BOOK, THAT WAS A BRILLANT TOUCH. THIS WAS A GREAT WAY TO SPEND MY HAZY-DAZY-LAZY SUNDAY. GREAT! ;D
September 18, 2014
Mystery with a touch of Gypsy magic
Ms Palmer has a writing style that is fun and easy to read. This book is full of just enough--just enough violence to make a good crime story without being gratuitous, just enough romance to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy without feeling nauseated, and just enough magic to spice up the story and still leave it believable. And the sheriff who solves the case and gets the bad guy is a woman who is tough and sassy but still comes across as your best girlfriend
Ms Palmer has a writing style that is fun and easy to read. This book is full of just enough--just enough violence to make a good crime story without being gratuitous, just enough romance to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy without feeling nauseated, and just enough magic to spice up the story and still leave it believable. And the sheriff who solves the case and gets the bad guy is a woman who is tough and sassy but still comes across as your best girlfriend
October 13, 2014
Great Read Nice Twist
First off I have to say I live in the southwest Florida area and ride Tamiami Trail almost everyday. Naturally the title intrigued me. I was not disappointed. The story was well written, contained interesting characters and had just the right amount of mystery and intrigue to keep me focused until the very end. It has a nice twist. The hunter becomes the hunted. I was also unaware that gypsies live in southwest Florida. I will have to research that. This is definitely a worthwhile read.
First off I have to say I live in the southwest Florida area and ride Tamiami Trail almost everyday. Naturally the title intrigued me. I was not disappointed. The story was well written, contained interesting characters and had just the right amount of mystery and intrigue to keep me focused until the very end. It has a nice twist. The hunter becomes the hunted. I was also unaware that gypsies live in southwest Florida. I will have to research that. This is definitely a worthwhile read.
November 12, 2014
Give this one 3.5 stars. Not bad, not great. I just couldn't get into the characters as much as I would like. The "sheriff" lacked that strong female vibe. You couldn't turn the page without another "mysterious" plot device. And this book has it all: fortune-tellers, Native American shaman, Mafia hit men, Hawaiian princesses... Taken together, it felt unpolished and overcooked. Maybe next time, Ms. Palmer.
September 10, 2014
Gypsies, murder, and crime
A well-written plot of the 1940s in Florida, starts with a young girl and her fun adventures around property in Sarasota, Florida. Palmer captures the characters, the dress, and the Gypsies who lived there. Ultimately , 30 years later the Mystery Killer is solved because of the beginning events......and another current murder is revealed.
well written, good characters, and a plot that keeps you going until the end.
A well-written plot of the 1940s in Florida, starts with a young girl and her fun adventures around property in Sarasota, Florida. Palmer captures the characters, the dress, and the Gypsies who lived there. Ultimately , 30 years later the Mystery Killer is solved because of the beginning events......and another current murder is revealed.
well written, good characters, and a plot that keeps you going until the end.
January 25, 2016
Better than expected. As a Florida native, I enjoy reading stories set in my home state. Has a few "family photos" used to enhance the experience. Lots of crunching sounds on shell roads. (Still have quite a few of those around in places.) A little too mystical in the solving of the mystery but a good effort. A satisfying summer crime/mystery read.
July 28, 2014
Interesting plot...I was even able to ignore the pseudo-psychic stuff, and I liked the characters. My main complaint is that a professional editor needs to eliminate at least half of the ENDLESS descriptions. I know the author was trying to create a mood using the Gulf coast setting...but she really overdid it.
October 16, 2014
Not only a murder mystery this book incorporates mysticism in a believable way. There are the Gypsies and the Indiam Shaman. A murder in Sarasota County Florida sets off a chain of events that will be both mysterious but weird as well. The female sheriff is pulled into this case and is working a dead line.
July 3, 2014
Good read
this was a good and enjoyable reading experience, I would recommend this to my sister and best friend I grew up in the south of Florida so it brought back some memories, amazing
this was a good and enjoyable reading experience, I would recommend this to my sister and best friend I grew up in the south of Florida so it brought back some memories, amazing
August 27, 2016
This book had just the right amount of mystery, and intrigue. I really liked that I never had an "eye-roll" moment where I knew what was going to happen next. The characters were interesting, the story flowed nicely, and I often had a hard time putting it down. I really enjoyed this book.
August 11, 2014
Predictable mystery
Predictable mystery
The big book was a page turner. I read it quickly, but
It was rather predictable.l would recommend to someone looking for a fast read
Predictable mystery
The big book was a page turner. I read it quickly, but
It was rather predictable.l would recommend to someone looking for a fast read
August 27, 2014
Interesting mystery with romance thrown in.
Interesting mystery with romance thrown in.
started reading and did not stop until I completed the book. goes from childhood to adulthood through exciting, frightening, loving situations. Totally enjoyable.
Interesting mystery with romance thrown in.
started reading and did not stop until I completed the book. goes from childhood to adulthood through exciting, frightening, loving situations. Totally enjoyable.
November 28, 2014
I live in Florida so I enjoy reading books that mention familiar landmarks, or delve into the history of the state. It was a good book and an interesting story, but somehow I feel it could have been more, I somewhat expected a little more from the book.
June 13, 2015
It ended nicely, but started so slowly that I almost gave up. Odd throughout that the memory/flashback scenes seemed to have more detail--too much, in fact. I felt like I was drowning in trivial details, which is part of what had me on the verge of giving up.
June 21, 2014
This was a lot of fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Great story and characters. Fairly quick read and we'll worth it !
June 28, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. It started out a bit slow for me, but once it go going I had a hard time putting it down.
July 3, 2014
The Mafia, Gypsies and a small town female Sherif kept me reading well into the night. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
July 26, 2014
Great story line! This is the first mystery I have read where I didn't figure out the end beforehand!
September 16, 2014
I really liked this book. It was a good, quick read with very likable, interesting characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews