When Lightning Strikes

Mysteries of Silver Peak #14

by Carole Jefferson

After lightning damages a tree near a shelter built by Sadie’s late husband, T.R., Sadie comes across an old tin with an intricate ring and a love poem inside. Could it be that T.R. had meant for these items to be found by Sadie, and if so, why were they stashed near T.R.’s favorite fishing spot? Meanwhile, Theo’s friend becomes the subject of an embarrassing social media campaign; can Theo find the culprit and restore his friend’s reputation? As always, mysteries are abounding in Silver Peak!

277 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2015

About the author

A Guideposts pen name used by a team of authors who write the Silver Peak mysteries, including Susan Page Davis, Nancy Mehl and Lisa Harris.

Reviews

[Cheryl]

Sadie finds some expensive jewelry and a poem hidden in an old tree on her property and wonders if her late husband hid it from her there. She finds out the jewelry was stolen and can’t believe he would do that. As her romance with her high school boyfriends heats up she wants to know how it was connected. There is also a boy being bullied at her grandson’s school and she tries to help stop the bullying.

[Linda]

I have read many of the Silver Peak Mysteries books which feature 60-ish widowed Sadie Speers, who sleuths in her Colorado town of Silver Peak. They are cozy mysteries with little to no violence. They are also a Christian series. While I normally really like the books, this one is my least favorite. All the going back and forth with reading Sadie's journal from her teen years to present times (with the same boyfriend but also including the guy she married in-between) left me a bit confused and a bit bored too.

Sadie finds a valuable piece of jewelry in a tree that lightning has struck. While this is a fabulous base for the mystery of who put it there, it goes on and on. There's a huge old misunderstanding. And while Sadie goes around asking everyone questions, why doesn't she ask her boyfriend, Edwin? I was amused by very elderly Aunt Pauline who justifies stealing because she's using the items for her "pocket gospels".

[Jacquie Stricklind]

Sadie and her grandchildren, and Alice go for a ride. Suddenly lightning appears and they head over to a shelter built by Sadie's late husband, T.R. Later, they find a rusty tin box with a very nice ring and poem in it. They also find some other things with it. Sadie thinks her husband put those things in the tree. She decides to find out who did. Meanwhile, a boy named Bodie, a friend of Theo is being bullied. Can Theo find out who is behind it? Sadie goes back and reads a diary she wrote when she and Edwin broke up. Read this good book to find out if lightning strikes twice.

[Melmo2610]

Another charming mystery. This one delves into Sadie's romantic history with the 2 men she has loved over her life. Very entertaining with several twists and turns. Enjoyed this one!

[Kasey Loftis]

As always, I very much enjoyed this book and my escape to Silver Peak. I love all the characters and the good they do.

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[Elaine]

Sadie discovers a poem & a ring hidden in a tree. Who put it there & why?