THE AFFILIATE

by DonnaRae Menard

Jan Hoyer is a mid-level postmaster, happy with her job, fairly content with her life, but looking for a little extra kick. A Postal Inspector offers her a position as an affiliate in his department. He needs someone who is willing to do some feet-on-the-street recon in areas where employees are cheating the system. It’s the type of recon he’s prohibited from doing. Hoyer accepts. The cases have been small but given her a Jane Bond feeling she’s enjoying. The new case involves transportation stolen international artifacts. She is told to watch and report, only, but when the man’s wife dies when her house blows up, Hoyer steps closer. A detonator is found in the remains, the mail carrier is starting to fray, and Hoyer uncovers a link between both cases. Just as the Inspection Service closes in, the link disappears. Is Hoyer going to be able to find that link, or will this case go cold?

260 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 24, 2025

About the author

DonnaRae Menard began writing in junior high school and has been scribbling since. She is the author of the An It's Never Too Late Mystery series. A 1970's suspense featuring Katelyn Took and 17 cats. The Woman Warrior's series, historical fiction from time periods she remembers, Detective Carmine Mansuer series, set in Boston, Mass. Dropped from the Sky, It takes Guts, Willa the Wisp, and several short stories. She splits her time between Vermont and New Hampshire, has an affinity for odd jobs, and rescued cats. She's also always willing to explain about her 450 pound lap pig.

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is a great storyteller and writes fast-paced mysteries. I believe she worked for the postal service - the setting for this book - and presumably was involved in some corporate sleuthing there as she knows USPS mail lingo and the rhythms of the job. The action keeps moving, engaging the reader. She writes a lot, and self publishes, so it is not surprising to see typos - those happen in heavily edited books too. She also uses word choices that are a shade atypical (respectful job versus respectable job, departmentalize versus compartmentalize). I have bought a few other books of hers at the Northwest Farmers Market (St Albans, VT) and look forward to reading those.