Tango

by Jim Hartsell

When Sam Reston answers his phone and Harry, his best friend from college, tells him he is in town, Sam agrees to meet him for a drink (or two) and a chance to catch up. This reunion sets in motion a chain of events that eventually uncovers the real story of how Lawrence, the third member of their trio, died that night in Memphis sixteen years ago.

Sam works at a bookstore and the local public radio station, and only has one secret - he’s learning the tango. The classes are an hour-long exercise in sensuality, a distinct and welcome contrast to the rest of his weekly routine. The unexpected visit from Harry leaves Sam literally holding the bag, a satchel that puts an unwilling Sam on the edge of one of Harry’s shady schemes.

When Rochelle, a casual friend, finds out about the dance lessons, Sam’s life gets even more complicated, and the revelation of Rochelle’s secret from her past and Harry’s bombshell about Lawrence’s death leave Sam wishing he could escape to the mysterious valley just outside of town he had stumbled upon during a late night drive.

Tango is a short suspense novel with a light touch of romance.

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 12, 2015

About the author

Like most of us, there are many descriptors that apply to me: husband, father, grandfather, voracious reader, and average hammer dulcimer player are a few of them. I also write, concentrating on Southern fiction and children’s books.
During my seven decades I have lived in a total of three counties, all in East Tennessee, and all contiguous; in one of those counties is the farm that’s been in our family for five generations. I have deep roots in this area. My immediate family consists of my wife of 40+ years, my two children, their spouses, and, at the moment, a total of six grandchildren. I have been assured that six is it, but I remain skeptical. My wife and I share our home on House Mountain with a cat and two shelter dogs.
My professional career was spent in education, working with teens in various treatment centers, locked units, residential facilities, and public school alternative classrooms. These decades spent with teens who were characterized as losers at best and dangerous at worst taught me much about resilience, strength, and bravery, and helped form the concept of the main character in the Boone series. It has been said that the problem with stereotypes isn’t that they aren’t true, but that they are incomplete. Certainly this is the case with the young people I spent so much time with, who are more like the rest of us than not.
I have a beautiful family, all the necessities of life plus a few luxuries, a fine circle of friends, and time to write books, play music, and enjoy the moments as they present themselves one by one. By any measure that matters to me, I am a very wealthy man.

Reviews

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this book. One of those books you just can't put down. Highly recommended.

[Arthur Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tango is a delightful read. Two words kept coming to mind as I read it—languorous, and sensual. The story engages the reader immediately, as it is written in first person point of view. Sam, the protagonist, seems is a bit rough around the edges. But as he works through a sudden and unexpected mystery left by a dodgy acquaintance from years past, he learns, though his own secret, about life, love and how to tango. The story blooms and touches repeatedly on the mysterious as Sam unexpectedly comes to own and operate a small bookstore. This well-written story has good life lessons here for all of us.

[Cyn Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim Hartsell is one of the best at bringing intriguing characters into play for his readers. Loved how the author incorporated dancing into the story line. Enjoyable read.