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Jefferson Morgan #2
The Obituary Lib/E
A corpse sends a simple scientist into a dark world of conspiracy and murder in this crime thriller by the USA Today –bestselling author The Deadline . When a world-renowned forensic anthropologist journeys to Winchester, Wyoming, to examine the long-dead remains of a woman who claimed to be Etta Place—the Old West’s most mysterious and legendary female outlaw—he’s not expecting to find a man’s headless corpse in her crypt. The grisly discovery plunges him and Jefferson Morgan—the editor of the weekly Winchester Bullet —into a shadowy and deadly world of satellite-savvy highway pirates, rural meth labs, computer hackers and old-fashioned corruption. And they might not survive the fall…. “Gorgeously written, complex and satisfying—a damn near perfect mystery.”—John Lescroart, New York Times –bestselling author “A great job with a fresh, original idea. The Obituary weaves elements of the best forensics writers at work today, as well as the best detective writers—a great mix.”—Michael Palmer, New York Times –bestselling author
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First published January 13, 2010
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About the author
Ron Franscell
30 books328 followersRon has written 19 books. His writing has been compared to Truman Capote, Charles Frazier and Robert Olen Butler—diverse, poetic, evocative and muscular. His new DEAF ROW—a mystery—proves it.
He burst onto the crime scene with THE DARKEST NIGHT (also titled FALL in a 2007 hardcover), which continues to be a bestselling true crime. This intensely personal nonfiction about a monstrous crime that touched his life as a child has been hailed by authors such as Ann Rule and Vincent Bugliosi, as well as critics, as a direct literary descendant of Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood."
His widely acclaimed 2016 true crime, MORGUE: A LIFE IN DEATH (co-authored with renowned medical examiner Dr. Vincent Di Maio) was nominated for an Edgar in 2017.
His most recent true crime, "ALICE & GERALD: A HOMICIDAL LOVE STORY" (Prometheus Books) explores a grisly, real-life case of murder and perverse devotion. "Alice & Gerald" features a femme fatale whose manipulative, cold-blooded character rivals Lady Macbeth, this page-turner revisits a shocking cold case that was finally solved just when the murderers thought they'd never be caught.
Over the years, Ron's books have earned high praise from bestselling authors such as Ann Rule, John Lescroart, Vincent Bugliosi, C.J. Box, Howard Frank Mosher, and Warren Adler. His writing has been compared to Truman Capote, Robert Olen Butler, Norman McLean, Cormac McCarthy and Charles Frazier. Now, meet the author, who now lives in northern New Mexico.
But Ron's books aren't confined to true-crime. THE SOURTOE COCKTAIL CLUB is the true story of an extraordinary -- if slightly macabre -- road trip with his teenage son to the Yukon in search of a mummified human toe .. and a father's reassurance that he hasn't become irrelevant to his son.
His CRIME BUFF'S GUIDE books are quirky travel guides that take true-crime and history-trippers to some 400 outlaw- and crime-related sites all over the USA. Editions include Los Angeles, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Washington DC, and Maryland.
His debut novel, ANGEL FIRE, was published by Laughing Owl in 1998, and reprinted by Berkley (Penguin/Putnam) in 2000. His popular mystery, THE DEADLINE, was re-published in 2014 by WildBlue Press, followed by a sequel, THE OBITUARY. His book reviews and essays are regularly published in many of America's biggest and best newspapers, such as the Washington Post, Chicago Sun-Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Denver Post, San Jose Mercury-News, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and others.
DELIVERED FROM EVIL (2011) explores the entangled lives of mass-murderers and their victims, tracing the lives of 10 ordinary people who survived some of America's worst massacres. Auspiciously, it debuted on the day a deranged young gunman killed six and wounded 13 at a Tucson supermarket in one of the most shocking crimes of our day.
He burst onto the crime scene with THE DARKEST NIGHT (also titled FALL in a 2007 hardcover), which continues to be a bestselling true crime. This intensely personal nonfiction about a monstrous crime that touched his life as a child has been hailed by authors such as Ann Rule and Vincent Bugliosi, as well as critics, as a direct literary descendant of Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood."
His widely acclaimed 2016 true crime, MORGUE: A LIFE IN DEATH (co-authored with renowned medical examiner Dr. Vincent Di Maio) was nominated for an Edgar in 2017.
His most recent true crime, "ALICE & GERALD: A HOMICIDAL LOVE STORY" (Prometheus Books) explores a grisly, real-life case of murder and perverse devotion. "Alice & Gerald" features a femme fatale whose manipulative, cold-blooded character rivals Lady Macbeth, this page-turner revisits a shocking cold case that was finally solved just when the murderers thought they'd never be caught.
Over the years, Ron's books have earned high praise from bestselling authors such as Ann Rule, John Lescroart, Vincent Bugliosi, C.J. Box, Howard Frank Mosher, and Warren Adler. His writing has been compared to Truman Capote, Robert Olen Butler, Norman McLean, Cormac McCarthy and Charles Frazier. Now, meet the author, who now lives in northern New Mexico.
But Ron's books aren't confined to true-crime. THE SOURTOE COCKTAIL CLUB is the true story of an extraordinary -- if slightly macabre -- road trip with his teenage son to the Yukon in search of a mummified human toe .. and a father's reassurance that he hasn't become irrelevant to his son.
His CRIME BUFF'S GUIDE books are quirky travel guides that take true-crime and history-trippers to some 400 outlaw- and crime-related sites all over the USA. Editions include Los Angeles, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Washington DC, and Maryland.
His debut novel, ANGEL FIRE, was published by Laughing Owl in 1998, and reprinted by Berkley (Penguin/Putnam) in 2000. His popular mystery, THE DEADLINE, was re-published in 2014 by WildBlue Press, followed by a sequel, THE OBITUARY. His book reviews and essays are regularly published in many of America's biggest and best newspapers, such as the Washington Post, Chicago Sun-Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Denver Post, San Jose Mercury-News, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and others.
DELIVERED FROM EVIL (2011) explores the entangled lives of mass-murderers and their victims, tracing the lives of 10 ordinary people who survived some of America's worst massacres. Auspiciously, it debuted on the day a deranged young gunman killed six and wounded 13 at a Tucson supermarket in one of the most shocking crimes of our day.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 7, 2022
I rarely give crime novels a 5 star rating just on general principle, but decided this one really earned it. The book is set in high plains small-town Wyoming, involves law enforcement hi-jinks, the local newspaper, corruption, highway crime and a misplaced body of the supposed Etta Place, girlfriend of the legendary Sundance Kid.
I’d not come across this author before but think the book is great fun. At first I was annoyed by the fact I was lured in by an author description where Franscell is compared to Truman Capote. Looking closer I see the Capote comparison must refer to Franscell’s non-fiction works and I’m not exactly convinced of that. Charles Frazier is strictly fiction and I really don’t get that comparison either. Taken on his own merits, Franscell has created a nice little book here.
I’m willing to put all the attempts at comparison aside. If anything the book might appeal to fans of Robert Crais (there I go making another comparison). There is humor on nearly every page without silliness, great characters, the setting works well and it’s a very good story.
I had a few instances of “I don’t buy this.” Every crime novel has some of that, but so long as it doesn’t happen too often or is too over the top I’m willing to ignore it. My favorite was the journalist talking about horse shit chips. Actually cow flop dries into chips not horse shit though. I definitely recommend this book if you like lighter crime thrillers
I’d not come across this author before but think the book is great fun. At first I was annoyed by the fact I was lured in by an author description where Franscell is compared to Truman Capote. Looking closer I see the Capote comparison must refer to Franscell’s non-fiction works and I’m not exactly convinced of that. Charles Frazier is strictly fiction and I really don’t get that comparison either. Taken on his own merits, Franscell has created a nice little book here.
I’m willing to put all the attempts at comparison aside. If anything the book might appeal to fans of Robert Crais (there I go making another comparison). There is humor on nearly every page without silliness, great characters, the setting works well and it’s a very good story.
I had a few instances of “I don’t buy this.” Every crime novel has some of that, but so long as it doesn’t happen too often or is too over the top I’m willing to ignore it. My favorite was the journalist talking about horse shit chips. Actually cow flop dries into chips not horse shit though. I definitely recommend this book if you like lighter crime thrillers
June 3, 2024
Another great title by Ron Franscell! He's quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I'm just a tad concerned that now I have to wait for him to write another entry in the Jefferson Morgan series.
I love Franscell's way with words. For example:
"In the dark he would kiss his son, undress for bed, press himself against his wife and dream whatever absurd movie his fatigued brain was screening tonight."
"A long silence. "You trust these cops? You're not even curious?"
"We got no choice, you're a ghoul [a mortician], and I'm a vulture [an investigative journalist]. We can't just break and enter because we're curious.""
I love Franscell's way with words. For example:
"In the dark he would kiss his son, undress for bed, press himself against his wife and dream whatever absurd movie his fatigued brain was screening tonight."
"A long silence. "You trust these cops? You're not even curious?"
"We got no choice, you're a ghoul [a mortician], and I'm a vulture [an investigative journalist]. We can't just break and enter because we're curious.""
July 31, 2011
A first-rate mystery, with literary heft lifting up the crackling craft to heights rarely touched by genre novels ... and almost never by self-published fare. Franscell, a Wyoming native, clearly knows the territory in this second tale in a series about small-town newspaper publisher and editor Jefferson Morgan and the history-burdered mysteries he finds himself exploring. (The first in the series, "The Deadline," is another winner, though more bogged down by Franscell's neo-gothic literary musings than "The Obituary.") This book never loses its crisp pacing, even as it ponders the mystery of Sundance Kid girlfriend Etta Place, stews in the science of decomposition and chemical recations, takes a journalistic tour of homegrown Christian extremists and thoughtfully develops fully dimensional characters. The cliffhangers are always surprising, the twists are always plausible and the writing is several cuts above the standards of standard genre fare. I sincerely hope that there's another Jefferson Morgan mystery in Franscell's future.
January 10, 2012
Morgan fled from Chicago following the death of his young son from leukemia. He had little else to want but to start a small town newspaper in Winchester, his childhood home, a town filled with “peccadilloes and idiosyncrasies,” with his wife, Claire, and now a new son, Colter. A forensic team, headed by Dr. Cowper, has come to town to examine the remains of an old women, ostensibly Etta Place, the girl friend of the infamous Sundance Kid. When they open the casket, however, the discover a headless male corpse, clearly murdered. How could he tell the skeletal remains were that of a male? “Dr. Cowper slipped a ballpoint pen from his breast pocket and kneeled beside the grim box. The sheriff and the coroner bent over for an anatomy lesson from one of America’s most brilliant forensic anthropologists. Even Morgan leaned closer. “Gentlemen,” Dr. Cowper said, directing their rapt attention to a leathery flap near the corpse’s pelvis, “this is a penis.” “
That scene gives you a feel for the sardonic nature of this small town mystery populated with characters like rancher Ray, who believed state road signs bore secret codes to tell New World Order tank squadrons who owned guns. He believed jet contrails in the sky were secret government plots to control population and inoculate Americans against their wills with anthrax and other strange diseases. He believed, because he’d once heard it on Art Bell’s late-night radio talk show, that Thomas Pynchon and J.D. Salinger were the same person, although he’d never read either. and who put cowboy boots on the top of his fence posts, but only because they looked good.
The book has some nice similes and metaphors. How’s this for the inverse of what we normally envision of a Wyoming sunset: The blood-smeared western sky spilled along the brink of the horizon, seeping slowly beneath the earth where it peeled back at the edges. A summer sunset in Wyoming was silently violent, a death. . . . The bleeding sky drained to corpse blue, then decomposed to black while Morgan slept.
For a small town,there’s a lot going on. “Excellent,” Cowper said as he rose to leave. “Meet me at the funeral home in thirty minutes. You won’t believe this, but he leaves the back door unlocked.” Morgan smiled. “It’s a small town,” he said. “The only time we lock our cars around here is zucchini season. If you don’t, somebody will stick a box of squash in your front seat.” “I’ll keep that in mind. And the cashier at the truck stop reads Anais Nin and Bertrand Russell. Not to mention the small-town radio station with totally obnoxious characters with a call-in show too often frequented by a local twelve-year-old. Dude, you got nothin’ better to do with your Saturdays than sit around and call the radio station?” The Bug said. “You’re what, thirteen? Haven’t heard of masturbation? Can I say masturbation on the air?” “You just did.” “Cool.”
An author definitely worth following.
That scene gives you a feel for the sardonic nature of this small town mystery populated with characters like rancher Ray, who believed state road signs bore secret codes to tell New World Order tank squadrons who owned guns. He believed jet contrails in the sky were secret government plots to control population and inoculate Americans against their wills with anthrax and other strange diseases. He believed, because he’d once heard it on Art Bell’s late-night radio talk show, that Thomas Pynchon and J.D. Salinger were the same person, although he’d never read either. and who put cowboy boots on the top of his fence posts, but only because they looked good.
The book has some nice similes and metaphors. How’s this for the inverse of what we normally envision of a Wyoming sunset: The blood-smeared western sky spilled along the brink of the horizon, seeping slowly beneath the earth where it peeled back at the edges. A summer sunset in Wyoming was silently violent, a death. . . . The bleeding sky drained to corpse blue, then decomposed to black while Morgan slept.
For a small town,there’s a lot going on. “Excellent,” Cowper said as he rose to leave. “Meet me at the funeral home in thirty minutes. You won’t believe this, but he leaves the back door unlocked.” Morgan smiled. “It’s a small town,” he said. “The only time we lock our cars around here is zucchini season. If you don’t, somebody will stick a box of squash in your front seat.” “I’ll keep that in mind. And the cashier at the truck stop reads Anais Nin and Bertrand Russell. Not to mention the small-town radio station with totally obnoxious characters with a call-in show too often frequented by a local twelve-year-old. Dude, you got nothin’ better to do with your Saturdays than sit around and call the radio station?” The Bug said. “You’re what, thirteen? Haven’t heard of masturbation? Can I say masturbation on the air?” “You just did.” “Cool.”
An author definitely worth following.
February 6, 2017
The first thing I need to tell you is that netgalley provided a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review. The second thing is that I was bound to like it unless it was poorly written, since I'm in the process of moving to Wyoming and am enthralled by any book that provides a good sense of the setting.
Franscell's "The Obitutary," did just that, and it was what I liked best about the book. Jefferson Morgan, the main character, is a newspaperman in the small town of Winchester, Wyoming. A little research on my part indicates that Winchester is actually a ghost town, but the active little town I'm moving to could have served as a template for Morgan's Winchester. As the book opens, a forensic archeaologist is on hand for the disenternment of Butch Cassidy's purported lover's body, and a shocking discovery is made when the grave is opened.
The book moves quickly from scene to scene, and there is a lot of violence. Until the end, it's not quite clear how the separate plots connect, but Franscell doesn't give the reader a lot of time to worry about those ties.
Franscell's writing about Wyoming and its people occasionally verges on the stereotypical, but it is mostly on-point and engaging. The plot weaves the history of the west with the drug problems faced by small, rural towns throughout the U.S. at the moment.
Franscell's "The Obitutary," did just that, and it was what I liked best about the book. Jefferson Morgan, the main character, is a newspaperman in the small town of Winchester, Wyoming. A little research on my part indicates that Winchester is actually a ghost town, but the active little town I'm moving to could have served as a template for Morgan's Winchester. As the book opens, a forensic archeaologist is on hand for the disenternment of Butch Cassidy's purported lover's body, and a shocking discovery is made when the grave is opened.
The book moves quickly from scene to scene, and there is a lot of violence. Until the end, it's not quite clear how the separate plots connect, but Franscell doesn't give the reader a lot of time to worry about those ties.
Franscell's writing about Wyoming and its people occasionally verges on the stereotypical, but it is mostly on-point and engaging. The plot weaves the history of the west with the drug problems faced by small, rural towns throughout the U.S. at the moment.
December 23, 2016
4 and ½ stars
We start our story with the exhumation of Laddie Granbouche. It is to be determined if she is the real Etta Place, girlfriend of a famous outlaw. The surprise is that the corpse is not who they expect it to be.
Life moves slowly in little Winchester, Wyoming. Jefferson Morgan, the newspaper editor, just moves along with it. Scrabbling weekly to get his little newspaper out with local stories of stolen hens and missing dogs, Jeff is restless.
Then his new friend a physical anthropologist by the name of Dr. Shawn Cowper from Florida drags him into a thrilling chase into the secrets of Laddie Granbouche.
They soon run into problems with the state DCI agents, especially over a certain death. Then there are the problems with fire and drug dealers.
This book is endearing in parts – perhaps I mean to say funny. The teasing that goes on between Jeff and Shawn is truly enjoyable.
This is a very good book and I really enjoyed it – immensely. I will definitely be looking into more of Ron Franscell’s books.
We start our story with the exhumation of Laddie Granbouche. It is to be determined if she is the real Etta Place, girlfriend of a famous outlaw. The surprise is that the corpse is not who they expect it to be.
Life moves slowly in little Winchester, Wyoming. Jefferson Morgan, the newspaper editor, just moves along with it. Scrabbling weekly to get his little newspaper out with local stories of stolen hens and missing dogs, Jeff is restless.
Then his new friend a physical anthropologist by the name of Dr. Shawn Cowper from Florida drags him into a thrilling chase into the secrets of Laddie Granbouche.
They soon run into problems with the state DCI agents, especially over a certain death. Then there are the problems with fire and drug dealers.
This book is endearing in parts – perhaps I mean to say funny. The teasing that goes on between Jeff and Shawn is truly enjoyable.
This is a very good book and I really enjoyed it – immensely. I will definitely be looking into more of Ron Franscell’s books.
February 7, 2017
I was provided with a copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the mysterious aspects of this book - the "who dunnit" was very intricately weaved! So many of the twists and turns were unexpected or perhaps alluded to but then a new angle was taken.
My reading usually involves more psychological drama versus criminal and action drama. I can think of several friends who would greatly enjoy this title. Personally, I found it a bit outside of my normal comfort zone but still very much worth the read!
I enjoyed the mysterious aspects of this book - the "who dunnit" was very intricately weaved! So many of the twists and turns were unexpected or perhaps alluded to but then a new angle was taken.
My reading usually involves more psychological drama versus criminal and action drama. I can think of several friends who would greatly enjoy this title. Personally, I found it a bit outside of my normal comfort zone but still very much worth the read!
February 14, 2017
A very well written mystery set in Wyoming. The plot was quite convoluted but there was enough twists and turns to keep me interested. Very detailed characterisation and I loved Morgan, the lead character. The book starts off quite slow with the exhumation of a body but the pace soon picks up as we encounter drug dealers and even a mention of Butch Cassidy! A good psychological thriller set in small town America. Thank you Net Galley for my copy.
July 1, 2017
Twisted mystery of drugs murder and legend
An author who develops the complications of friendships when it crosses over into professional lives with ease. Small towns you know everyone, or do you?. Excellent written mystery that has you trying to figure out the legend then a murder when it seems all hell breaks loose. Don't miss it.
An author who develops the complications of friendships when it crosses over into professional lives with ease. Small towns you know everyone, or do you?. Excellent written mystery that has you trying to figure out the legend then a murder when it seems all hell breaks loose. Don't miss it.
March 7, 2017
4 1/2 Stars
This is the second book in this series I've read. Second book much better than the first. I would read more from this author, especially a series featuring Dr. Shawn, the forensic anthropologist. Amid the crimes and chaos, there's good humor in this book.
This is the second book in this series I've read. Second book much better than the first. I would read more from this author, especially a series featuring Dr. Shawn, the forensic anthropologist. Amid the crimes and chaos, there's good humor in this book.
October 12, 2017
Longer than it needed to be. He adds too many descriptors, and details that get in the way of the story itself. I think the author has a problem with people that are overweight, by the way he describes one of the characters. The woman are one dimensional and are just props.
January 27, 2024
Hook, line and yep totally got me at the end again. Didn’t see it coming at all. This writer keeps the reader on the edge of their seat taking one through a story one cannot predict. My kinda read‼️So this is the end of the series say it isn’t soooooo‼️
May 26, 2017
Not usually a mystery fan but enjoyed it!!
July 19, 2018
Great
This is one of the better books I have read lately. Some dry humor, a puzzling plot. Off to find the first book.
This is one of the better books I have read lately. Some dry humor, a puzzling plot. Off to find the first book.
February 19, 2025
Was okay
March 11, 2017
Not as good as the first one
This one tried too hard with the flowery language. It felt like he told the story but it was too short so he just went back and added a lot of adjectives.
Glad it's done and not keen to read book 3.
This one tried too hard with the flowery language. It felt like he told the story but it was too short so he just went back and added a lot of adjectives.
Glad it's done and not keen to read book 3.
March 9, 2017
Wonderful mystery
I read the second book before the first and chose the fist because I liked the second very much. I chose this one because I liked the location of Wyoming. It reminded me of home. The mystery is engrossing and the characters are great. So glad I read them both!
I read the second book before the first and chose the fist because I liked the second very much. I chose this one because I liked the location of Wyoming. It reminded me of home. The mystery is engrossing and the characters are great. So glad I read them both!
March 3, 2017
THIS GOT MY ATTENTION RIGHT AWAY, AFTER THE FIRST 2 PAGES I SAID “WELL DAMN”. THE KILLING, WHEN WILL WE KNOW WHO/WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS SH*T? OMG! WHAT A RUSH, I LOVED IT. ;D
February 21, 2017
One of the best I've read in a while.
A solid plot, likeable characters, witty dialogue all combine to make a terrific story. Toss in a bit of humor and you have one check of a book!
A solid plot, likeable characters, witty dialogue all combine to make a terrific story. Toss in a bit of humor and you have one check of a book!
February 19, 2017
Good story
I liked all the unexpected twists and turns of this story. It was fast moving with bits of philosophy thrown in rather unexpectedly. i may have to buy the rest of the series even though this was a stand alone tale.
I liked all the unexpected twists and turns of this story. It was fast moving with bits of philosophy thrown in rather unexpectedly. i may have to buy the rest of the series even though this was a stand alone tale.
February 17, 2017
Well written with interesting story, both past and present
I'm probably the only person of my generation who hasn't seen Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid , but now I plan to watch it. I'm sure the history in this book is more accurate than the movie! I liked the main character and the story and will probably read others in the series.
I'm probably the only person of my generation who hasn't seen Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid , but now I plan to watch it. I'm sure the history in this book is more accurate than the movie! I liked the main character and the story and will probably read others in the series.
February 14, 2017
DNF: 62%
Started out okay, but became too implausible for me. I was interested in the forensic guy and his dark humor, but then he started acting inappropriately with the hero's wife. There were too many dead bodies. It seemed implausible that the sheriff would arrest the newspaper guy as a suspect.
Started out okay, but became too implausible for me. I was interested in the forensic guy and his dark humor, but then he started acting inappropriately with the hero's wife. There were too many dead bodies. It seemed implausible that the sheriff would arrest the newspaper guy as a suspect.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2017
Well written but convoluted
The story is engaging, however minor characters were given detailed backgrounds that somewhat confused the basic story. If you like character details and convoluted story lines this is the book for you. It is worth the price.
The story is engaging, however minor characters were given detailed backgrounds that somewhat confused the basic story. If you like character details and convoluted story lines this is the book for you. It is worth the price.
February 10, 2017
Nicely-written, well-plotted
This small-town thriller, set in Winchester, Wyoming, follows a twisting path through truck stop killers, late-night gunfire, and a long-dead woman who may just have been Etta Place, of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid fame... the writing is spare, but evocative, and the dialog convincing. I may have to go back and read the first in the series, having found it through this entry!
This small-town thriller, set in Winchester, Wyoming, follows a twisting path through truck stop killers, late-night gunfire, and a long-dead woman who may just have been Etta Place, of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid fame... the writing is spare, but evocative, and the dialog convincing. I may have to go back and read the first in the series, having found it through this entry!
June 22, 2015
Wonderful read! A beautifully written mystery, full of small-town charm that I can well appreciate, exciting twists and compelling characters.
I loved how easily the author kindled investment in the lives and happenings of these fictional characters. Although it started off a tiny bit slow for me, it felt like one minute I was at 25% and then I looked again and it was 86%. The storyline seriously ramped up at that point. Enough that I actually uttered aloud "WHOA!" - totally forgetting where I was and that no-one else knew what all the excitement was about. Once that happened it was pretty much impossible to put down.
Even though this is the second in the series, I believe it can be read as a stand-alone. I didn't read the first one and didn't find I was lost at all. That said, I will be adding the first one in the series to my To-Be-Read list/mountain and following the author's future work.
I loved how easily the author kindled investment in the lives and happenings of these fictional characters. Although it started off a tiny bit slow for me, it felt like one minute I was at 25% and then I looked again and it was 86%. The storyline seriously ramped up at that point. Enough that I actually uttered aloud "WHOA!" - totally forgetting where I was and that no-one else knew what all the excitement was about. Once that happened it was pretty much impossible to put down.
Even though this is the second in the series, I believe it can be read as a stand-alone. I didn't read the first one and didn't find I was lost at all. That said, I will be adding the first one in the series to my To-Be-Read list/mountain and following the author's future work.
September 10, 2015
Didn't enjoy it as a much as 'Deadline' but still a good read, didn't particularly like the over descriptive long worded sentences, think it was just done to look clever, bit annoying. Morgan is a great lead character so I gave 4 stars not 5.
December 11, 2016
I chose this one because it was set in Wyoming and has a great cover. Unfortunately, I wasn't as impressed with The Obituary as other reviewers. It was, for me, an OK read, but...it didn't seem realistic, the characters didn't really engage me, and the dialogue felt stilted.
March 21, 2011
Thank you, Bob, for a dandy read and sending it to me for my kindle. Just right for the time.
Want to read
February 22, 2019Synopsis: when a forensic anthropologist journeys to Wyoming to examine the long-dead remains of Etta Place, he finds a man’s headless corpse.
April 24, 2017
The plot was a little too unrealistic for me. Started off ok. But lost it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews