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Jefferson Morgan #1
The Deadline: A Mystery
A dying convict's last request thrusts small-town newspaperman Jefferson Morgan into a deadly maelstrom as he explores a fifty-year-old case of child murder -- a wound his town still isn't ready to scrape open. Under the heaviest deadline of his life, and amid threats from unexpected foes, Morgan must struggle with his own conscience to tell a story no matter the consequences, dig deep into the town's past, and unveil a killer who's managed to remain unmasked for almost 50 years.
308 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1999
82 people are currently reading
612 people want to read
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 40 reviews
May 27, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this literary mystery, which was wonderfully read with feeling by Joe Barrett. Examples of the writing that I truly appreciated:
From the prologue: "The whole town of Winchester Wyoming was gossiping about the murder of Amy Little Spotted Horse. The stories had their own lives suffused with secret spites and shades of fancy."
About the deep and enduring pain of the loss of a child: "Time was an imperfect glass that distorted what it could not reflect. Some memories were too dark and too deep to catch the light. Morgan felt he was chasing old ghosts through a warped mirror."
A vivid description: "In the half light of the new morning, the body lay on its back, its empty eye sockets starring up at the smoky sky. In the intense heat, the eyeballs had split open and shriveled like grapes on a griddle."
From the prologue: "The whole town of Winchester Wyoming was gossiping about the murder of Amy Little Spotted Horse. The stories had their own lives suffused with secret spites and shades of fancy."
About the deep and enduring pain of the loss of a child: "Time was an imperfect glass that distorted what it could not reflect. Some memories were too dark and too deep to catch the light. Morgan felt he was chasing old ghosts through a warped mirror."
A vivid description: "In the half light of the new morning, the body lay on its back, its empty eye sockets starring up at the smoky sky. In the intense heat, the eyeballs had split open and shriveled like grapes on a griddle."
December 11, 2014
This book was AWESOME! It was a mystery until the end and when I got to the end, I cried. It's easy to make people laugh and a whole lot harder to make people cry.
The story starts with Aimee Little Spotted Horse being dumped into a river on August 2, 1946. The alleged killer confesses to a life sentence in prison in lieu of going to the electric chair.
Fast forward about fifty years and the alleged killer, Neely Gilmartin, gets out of prison and pays Jeff Morgan, the editor for the Bullet, a visit and tells him he isn't guilty and wants to prove it. To add to the difficulty of finding the real killer, Jeff is on a deadline because Gilmartin is riddled with cancer and is down to just a couple of weeks to live. Gilmartin wants his name to be cleared before he dies.
Jeff is a seasoned newspaperman and had worked in Chicago as a crime reporter and knows that all convicts say they're innocent so he didn't believe Gilmartin at first but decided to see if there was any truth to his story
It doesn't take long for Jeff to discover there is a big coverup going on over this little girl's murder even fifty years later. As the story progresses, you come up with potential suspects but the true killer isn't revealed until the very end.
The story is filled with twists and turns and events that point toward who and why but the ending is still a surprise.
The book is well-written,thought out and an exciting story overall.
The story starts with Aimee Little Spotted Horse being dumped into a river on August 2, 1946. The alleged killer confesses to a life sentence in prison in lieu of going to the electric chair.
Fast forward about fifty years and the alleged killer, Neely Gilmartin, gets out of prison and pays Jeff Morgan, the editor for the Bullet, a visit and tells him he isn't guilty and wants to prove it. To add to the difficulty of finding the real killer, Jeff is on a deadline because Gilmartin is riddled with cancer and is down to just a couple of weeks to live. Gilmartin wants his name to be cleared before he dies.
Jeff is a seasoned newspaperman and had worked in Chicago as a crime reporter and knows that all convicts say they're innocent so he didn't believe Gilmartin at first but decided to see if there was any truth to his story
It doesn't take long for Jeff to discover there is a big coverup going on over this little girl's murder even fifty years later. As the story progresses, you come up with potential suspects but the true killer isn't revealed until the very end.
The story is filled with twists and turns and events that point toward who and why but the ending is still a surprise.
The book is well-written,thought out and an exciting story overall.
July 12, 2015
I expected a classic mystery when I agreed to review. The Deadline is so much more: Beautifully-written literary fiction wrapped around a mystery. The people are deftly-drawn, and Franscell's descriptions put the reader right next to the protagonist. It reminded me of Grisham's A Time to Kill, but perhaps better written. Or William Kent Krueger's Ordinary Grace. A wonderful read.
October 17, 2021
This book is very special to me. One of my favourite books of all time. And there are so many reasons why it moved me in a way that I can't describe in simple words. Ron's writing is very précised. He described everything in great detail, the colour, the smell. It felt like I am a part of the story, witnessing it unfold without being physically there. It is so poetically mesmerizing.
The thing is, I cried a bucket of tears while reading The Deadline. OMG, this book is so so tragic and devastating. My heart has been torn into little shreds! You just need to read this.
The thing is, I cried a bucket of tears while reading The Deadline. OMG, this book is so so tragic and devastating. My heart has been torn into little shreds! You just need to read this.
December 28, 2014
I received this book via Story Cartel to give an honest review.
After reading the blurb I knew that this book was going to be a good one. The book starts off strong and keeps going until the end. I honestly had no clue who the murderer was until it was pointed out and I enjoy that in a book that is full of mystery and suspense.
When the book starts off you are witnessing the murder of a little Indian girl, and then we precede to having Gilmartin confessing to the crime. But the question you end up asking yourself later on is did he really commit the crime? Gilmartin comes back to the little town where this tragedy happened and he asks Jefferson Morgan to look into clearing his name, being as Morgan is editor of the local newspaper. Of course Morgan knows that a majority of cons always say they are innocent but there is a chance that Gilmartin may be telling the truth. But what Morgan uncovers is something that will causes the town to have him not looking into the past. What is being hidden?
Morgan races against time to find the truth as to what happened to Aimee. But will he find out before Gilmartin dies, or before he loses everything that he has built up for himself and his wife.
You want a good mystery book, then I say get this one! This is a new author for me and I am already liking his work so I do believe I will be checking out more of his books to see if the writing is just as good.
After reading the blurb I knew that this book was going to be a good one. The book starts off strong and keeps going until the end. I honestly had no clue who the murderer was until it was pointed out and I enjoy that in a book that is full of mystery and suspense.
When the book starts off you are witnessing the murder of a little Indian girl, and then we precede to having Gilmartin confessing to the crime. But the question you end up asking yourself later on is did he really commit the crime? Gilmartin comes back to the little town where this tragedy happened and he asks Jefferson Morgan to look into clearing his name, being as Morgan is editor of the local newspaper. Of course Morgan knows that a majority of cons always say they are innocent but there is a chance that Gilmartin may be telling the truth. But what Morgan uncovers is something that will causes the town to have him not looking into the past. What is being hidden?
Morgan races against time to find the truth as to what happened to Aimee. But will he find out before Gilmartin dies, or before he loses everything that he has built up for himself and his wife.
You want a good mystery book, then I say get this one! This is a new author for me and I am already liking his work so I do believe I will be checking out more of his books to see if the writing is just as good.
November 11, 2014
This book is about a newspaper editor who has been requested by a dying man to prove his innocence of a murder that happened decades ago. The writing style grabs you from the beginning to the end. I found it difficult to put this book down. I loved the story, characters, and how the book moves you emotionally. Highly recommend this author.
December 30, 2014
Jefferson Morgan, after working for the Chicago Tribune for 18 years, returns to his hometown of Winchester, Wyoming and takes over the Bullet, Winchester’s town newspaper. Faced with an inability to meet deadlines or make the payments for the newspaper, he meets Neeley Gilmartin, a man who has just been paroled after spending 50 years behind bars for a killing that he confessed to, but is now claiming that he didn’t do. Gilmartin asks Morgan to prove his innocence, plunging him into a bubbling, putrid mess of the past, and threatening his existence.
The seamy underbelly of a small town comes vividly to life in Ron Franscell’s Deadline, with a cast of characters so alive you can smell the sweat of their underarms. Franscell weaves an eerie, fascinating tale of the tangled relationships that grew out of the murder of a child that, if Gilmartin’s claim of innocence is right, has never been solved, and continues to cast a cloud over Winchester.
I received a free review copy of Deadline, and was enthralled from opening lines, and unable to stop reading until I reached the end. Franscell has written a book that defies categorization – genre hardly matters when you’re reading what is just a darn good story.
The seamy underbelly of a small town comes vividly to life in Ron Franscell’s Deadline, with a cast of characters so alive you can smell the sweat of their underarms. Franscell weaves an eerie, fascinating tale of the tangled relationships that grew out of the murder of a child that, if Gilmartin’s claim of innocence is right, has never been solved, and continues to cast a cloud over Winchester.
I received a free review copy of Deadline, and was enthralled from opening lines, and unable to stop reading until I reached the end. Franscell has written a book that defies categorization – genre hardly matters when you’re reading what is just a darn good story.
November 20, 2016
A dying convict’s last request thrusts small-town newspaperman Jefferson Morgan into a deadly maelstrom as he explores a fifty-year-old case of child murder — a wound his town still isn’t ready to scrape open. Under the heaviest deadline of his life, and amid threats from unexpected foes, Morgan must struggle with his own conscience to tell a story no matter the consequences, dig deep into the town’s past, and unveil a killer who’s managed to remain hidden in plain sight for almost 50 years.
This book is, at its heart, a great story, really well told. Each character is finely drawn and believable. The reader roots for Jeff as he struggles to keep his newspaper going, cope with the death of his young son and keep his beleaguered wife happy. Ron Franscell is a great story teller. The pace is excellent, the twists believable and the plot sweeps you onward from beginning to end. A great read from a great author.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley.
This book is, at its heart, a great story, really well told. Each character is finely drawn and believable. The reader roots for Jeff as he struggles to keep his newspaper going, cope with the death of his young son and keep his beleaguered wife happy. Ron Franscell is a great story teller. The pace is excellent, the twists believable and the plot sweeps you onward from beginning to end. A great read from a great author.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley.
March 22, 2015
Wasn't sure I was going to read it whilst reading the prologue, but I guess it sets the story in the time that was 40's America. I'm so glad I did continue, it was an emotional story, gruesome in parts but even so, you just had to keep reading, nothing could take away it being a five star, page turning emotional read, only the 2nd book I've ever cried with!
August 2, 2013
Loved this book! Ron Franscell has done it again!! I couldn't put it down!
Want to read
November 12, 2014I won a copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaways. After it's arrived on my doorstep and I've had a chance to read it, I'll formulate my opinions and write a review. Stay tuned!
August 11, 2021
The Deadline
Although fiction isn't my usual genre, Ron Franscell has a way of pulling you into a story! I really enjoyed this book! It was smooth and suspenseful!
Although fiction isn't my usual genre, Ron Franscell has a way of pulling you into a story! I really enjoyed this book! It was smooth and suspenseful!
November 11, 2016
In 1948, an out-of-work drunk named Neeley Gilmartin was convicted for the murder of nine-year-old Aimee Little Spotted Horse in the small community of Winchester, Wyoming. After having threatened Aimee’s father during a drunken bar fight, the case seemed a no-brainer, and there were no other suspects. But after 50 years in prison, Gilmartin, now dying of end-stage lung cancer, is back, and insists that he is innocent. Nobody in the community would ever take him seriously, except newspaper editor Jefferson Morgan, who always has an open ear for a good story and has made a reputation for himself by solving a tricky murder case whilst working for a paper in Chicago. Although sceptical, Morgan decides to look into the old crime to see if there is any truth behind the old man’s claim. Is it possible that the real killer is still out there? However, he soon discovers that there are people who are not happy about him asking questions about Aimee, and will go to any lengths to keep the past in the past.
The Deadline is an intriguing mystery set in the remote wilds of Wyoming. Franscell’s evocative writing brings forth believable characters in an interesting small-town setting, with its small-town politics, allegiances and tangled relationships. There is an undertone of menace and escalating tension in the background, slowly building to pose a real threat to Morgan’s safety, whose only interest is to find out the truth, and to clear the name of a man he believes innocent of the crime he served 50 years in prison for. The deeper Morgan digs into the town’s past, the more secrets and lies he uncovers, risking lifelong friendships along the way and putting himself in the firing line of people who want to keep the past buried. I loved the small town dynamics Franscell describes so well, and the slow but even pace the old mystery unfolded at. With a vivid cast of small-town residents, warts and all, the story comes to life and delivers a suspenseful, intriguing read which kept me captivated from beginning to end. There were some emotional moments as the secret and its terrible implications were revealed, adding a whole new depth to the mystery. Perhaps a few minor details at the end did not quite add up for me, but this did not detract from the overall reading pleasure.
I am excited about having discovered this talented new voice in crime fiction, and look forward to reading Franscell’s second novel in the series, The Obituary.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The Deadline is an intriguing mystery set in the remote wilds of Wyoming. Franscell’s evocative writing brings forth believable characters in an interesting small-town setting, with its small-town politics, allegiances and tangled relationships. There is an undertone of menace and escalating tension in the background, slowly building to pose a real threat to Morgan’s safety, whose only interest is to find out the truth, and to clear the name of a man he believes innocent of the crime he served 50 years in prison for. The deeper Morgan digs into the town’s past, the more secrets and lies he uncovers, risking lifelong friendships along the way and putting himself in the firing line of people who want to keep the past buried. I loved the small town dynamics Franscell describes so well, and the slow but even pace the old mystery unfolded at. With a vivid cast of small-town residents, warts and all, the story comes to life and delivers a suspenseful, intriguing read which kept me captivated from beginning to end. There were some emotional moments as the secret and its terrible implications were revealed, adding a whole new depth to the mystery. Perhaps a few minor details at the end did not quite add up for me, but this did not detract from the overall reading pleasure.
I am excited about having discovered this talented new voice in crime fiction, and look forward to reading Franscell’s second novel in the series, The Obituary.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
January 25, 2024
Each scene was well described and I felt as if I was there. As always he captures my attention in the first paragraph. This story felt like a real crime being revealed in my Wyoming state. I’m already to start The Obituary just need to reserve the time as I won’t stop until I’m done as I’m sure I won’t be able to put it down. May have to wait til next week when I’m recovering from surgery. Not sure I’ll wait though as I’m ready to finish this series as this fooled me hook line and sinker‼️Ron can be a stinker as I sometimes believed he was the newspaper editor telling one of stories he compiled from some crimes and events that happened in Wyoming. Since he knows everything about Wyoming I love to read his stories about it as he is spot on his description of the land, wind, weather isolation between towns makes it jump off the page and into my mind and feel as though I am in that exact spot.
August 30, 2017
In order to get the setting and characters going,
The Deadline
felt a bit slow to start. Once the pace picked up, I found the book to be very enjoyable.
Jefferson Morgan is a truth-seeker. He works hard as a newspaper owner/editor and I love his drive to get at the truth. Even though his personal life has been difficult in recent years, I enjoyed how he and his wife started fresh back in his hometown. The journey however was not without more difficulty. His character, with the help of many others, grew substantially throughout this mystery and that growth provided a beautiful culmination to the story.
There were many rough around the edges characters in The Deadline and they all brought depth to the story. The small Wyoming town where the story was set felt authentic and it resonated with my past, growing up in a small mid-western town.
I look forward to getting to know Jefferson Morgan, his family, and the townspeople more as this series continues.
I had the pleasure of listening to Joe Barrett's narration. He had a great voice for all characters and was a great narrator to tell the story.
Note: I received a review copy of this title courtesy of the audiobook publisher, Tantor.
Jefferson Morgan is a truth-seeker. He works hard as a newspaper owner/editor and I love his drive to get at the truth. Even though his personal life has been difficult in recent years, I enjoyed how he and his wife started fresh back in his hometown. The journey however was not without more difficulty. His character, with the help of many others, grew substantially throughout this mystery and that growth provided a beautiful culmination to the story.
There were many rough around the edges characters in The Deadline and they all brought depth to the story. The small Wyoming town where the story was set felt authentic and it resonated with my past, growing up in a small mid-western town.
I look forward to getting to know Jefferson Morgan, his family, and the townspeople more as this series continues.
I had the pleasure of listening to Joe Barrett's narration. He had a great voice for all characters and was a great narrator to tell the story.
Note: I received a review copy of this title courtesy of the audiobook publisher, Tantor.
March 1, 2018
This is probably a good book, but I could not finish it.
Although the beginning promised well I was not able to continue reading this book. There are too many storylines that make the main story disappear. I have nothing against sidelines to support the main story, but when there are so many and the author goes into detailed descriptions, the book becomes overstuffed and loses the actual initial story. I stopped reading when the main story - the killing of the little girl - seemed to become secondary. The author was unable to maintain the focus where it belonged.
Although the beginning promised well I was not able to continue reading this book. There are too many storylines that make the main story disappear. I have nothing against sidelines to support the main story, but when there are so many and the author goes into detailed descriptions, the book becomes overstuffed and loses the actual initial story. I stopped reading when the main story - the killing of the little girl - seemed to become secondary. The author was unable to maintain the focus where it belonged.
November 6, 2024
I was a bit put out by the narrator at first (Audible); however, he ended up growing on me as the story progressed.
The story slogged a bit in some parts but I do believe it intentionally built up the tension.
I would (and have) recommended this to others!
Not as good as Deaf Row but I thoroughly enjoyed it
The story slogged a bit in some parts but I do believe it intentionally built up the tension.
I would (and have) recommended this to others!
Not as good as Deaf Row but I thoroughly enjoyed it
November 10, 2016
Great book by a great author! Very fascinating and interesting story. Well written, good characters and a good storyline. Hard to put down. I truly enjoyed this book. If you like mysteries, this is the book for you!
March 9, 2021
A struggling newspaper in a small town in the Mountain West and a possible miscarriage of justice are the main draws of this mystery. I hadn't read anything else by Franscell, but he is definitely a good writer, who conjures some very interesting characters.
March 4, 2022
Stayed up all night to read this one!
Great characters and the plot kept me on the edge of my seat. The author developed the characters and location so well I felt a part of the action. Highly recommend this book and can't wait to read Ron Franscell's new release Shadowman.
Great characters and the plot kept me on the edge of my seat. The author developed the characters and location so well I felt a part of the action. Highly recommend this book and can't wait to read Ron Franscell's new release Shadowman.
February 1, 2023
I couldn’t put this book down. I fell in love with and was utterly frustrated with the characters. The ending had me on my toes, I cared so much how this ended, I felt invested. I can’t wait to read more of Ron’s books.
March 9, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyed.
The story was good, the characters were great, and it was suspenseful the whole time. The location reminded me of home. Sorry to see it end!
The story was good, the characters were great, and it was suspenseful the whole time. The location reminded me of home. Sorry to see it end!
June 23, 2017
Read in 3days. Wow
She/he wasn't even a suspect! Love love loved this book. I "buy" free or .99 cent books but will definitely purchase from this author.
She/he wasn't even a suspect! Love love loved this book. I "buy" free or .99 cent books but will definitely purchase from this author.
July 4, 2017
it's a five star book... no need to say more.
May 12, 2022
Excellent book! Thoroughly enjoyed it! Could hardly put it down and when I had to, I couldn’t wait to pick up and continue reading! Reading Obituary next!
November 2, 2022
Great read once again Ron delivers a book that is well written, the characters in his books could be our neighbors.
January 29, 2025
Starts out kinda slow but then takes a lot of twists and turns
October 1, 2017
This was a great book! There is a lot of description for things, which I’m not a big fan of. There is also a lot of backstory for quite a few characters. I listened to the book, so I had a bit of a hard time remembering who was who. I almost stopped listening. But, I didn’t.
Turns out it was really interesting. I was surprised, which is a surprise. So if you like a lot of description, or can get past it, it’s a good read (or listen)
Turns out it was really interesting. I was surprised, which is a surprise. So if you like a lot of description, or can get past it, it’s a good read (or listen)
February 24, 2017
Would like to rate it 4 1/2 stars
Loved the book but the ending raced along wrapping up the mystery nicely but, to me, in a manner that was a bit confusing. Without giving it away, it was a who did what and why involving so many characters that, although it did make sense I had to stop occasionally to figure out how this or that person's actions affected the rush to jail a possibly innocent man and hide their complicity for years.
Loved the book but the ending raced along wrapping up the mystery nicely but, to me, in a manner that was a bit confusing. Without giving it away, it was a who did what and why involving so many characters that, although it did make sense I had to stop occasionally to figure out how this or that person's actions affected the rush to jail a possibly innocent man and hide their complicity for years.
May 20, 2015
A Beautifully Written Novel That Won't Let Go!
Chicago newspaper reporter Jeff Morgan leaves the big city behind to buy the weekly newspaper in his hometown, a premise that holds no hint of the wild, unpredictable journey author Ron Franscell has planned for his reader. Several subplots are deliciously intertwined and masterfully written by Franscell. The protagonist pours his heart into solving a mystery and fulfilling a request made by an ex-con who will succumb to terminal cancer at any time. In the process, old resentments, buried secrets and small-town power plays work to keep Jeff from seeing that justice is done. Just when the reader has identified "the bad guys," the story takes another direction, and Franscell proves again what a gripping story he has cobbled together. His writing lacks the commercialism of many authors; Franscell is head and shoulders above most.
Chicago newspaper reporter Jeff Morgan leaves the big city behind to buy the weekly newspaper in his hometown, a premise that holds no hint of the wild, unpredictable journey author Ron Franscell has planned for his reader. Several subplots are deliciously intertwined and masterfully written by Franscell. The protagonist pours his heart into solving a mystery and fulfilling a request made by an ex-con who will succumb to terminal cancer at any time. In the process, old resentments, buried secrets and small-town power plays work to keep Jeff from seeing that justice is done. Just when the reader has identified "the bad guys," the story takes another direction, and Franscell proves again what a gripping story he has cobbled together. His writing lacks the commercialism of many authors; Franscell is head and shoulders above most.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews