Girl with a Gun

An Annie Oakley Mystery #1

by Kari Bovee

Fifteen-year-old Annie Oakley is the sole supporter of her widowed mother and two siblings. An expert markswoman and independent spirit, she hunts game to sell to the local mercantile to make ends meet instead of accepting a marriage proposal that could solve all her problems.
After a stunning performance in a shooting contest against the handsome and famous sharpshooter Frank Butler, Annie is offered a position in the renowned Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Finally, she has a chance to save the nearly foreclosed family farm and make her dreams come true. But then her Indian assistant is found dead in her tent, and Annie is dubious when the local coroner claims the death was due to natural causes. When another innocent is murdered, Annie begins to fear the deaths are related to her. And to make matters worse, her prized horse, Buck, a major part of her act, is stolen.
Annie soon discovers that the solution to her problems lies buried in a padlocked Civil War trunk belonging to the show's manager, Derence LeFleur. And so, with the help of a sassy, blue-blooded reporter, Annie sets out to find her horse, solve the murders, and clear her name.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Westerns, Historical, Romance, Historical Mystery

329 pages, Paperback

First published June 19, 2018

About the author

Winner of the 2019 Hillerman Southwest Fiction Award.

Empowered women in history, horses, unconventional characters, and real-life historical events fill the pages of award-winning writer Kari Bovee's historical mystery musings and manuscripts.

Born in northern New Mexico, Kari developed a love of reading, writing, and history early in life. Her most treasured Christmas gift as a young child was a toy typewriter. After graduating with a B.A. in English Literature with an emphasis in Creative Writing, Kari found work as a technical writer at a Fortune 500 tech company. But, her love of story-telling never waned. While staying at home with two young children, Kari wrote her first novel and hasn't stopped. She and her husband live happily in rural Corrales, New Mexico with their horses, dogs, and cats.

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

I am going to say right off the bat that I was pleasantly surprised by Girl with a Gun: An Annie Oakley Mystery by Kari Bovee. I thought the premise sounded really good, but I still wasn't sure what to expect. This book exceeded my expectations and was so fun to read.

Girl with a Gun focuses on 15 year-old Annie Mosey who is the sole provider for her mother and 2 younger brothers. The book begins by Annie going to a competition where the prize is $200 if you can outshoot the great sharpshooter Frank Butler. After everyone has been impressed by her shooting abilities, she is offered a job with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show under the stage name Annie Oakley that she gladly accepts so she can send the money home to her family. Annie goes on the road with them and quickly finds herself in the middle of a murder and many other mysterious happenings.

I loved seeing names I recognized (besides Annie) like Buffalo Bill and Chief Sitting Bull. Even though the book is fiction and I know it's not full of facts, I still found it fascinating even just reading about these people in a fictional sense.

I think the major thing people have issues with when reading Girl with a Gun is that there isn't a lot of characterization. Things might seem a bit abrupt, and relationships not all that believable because of this. This book doesn't GO DEEP is one good way to put it. I didn't have any issues with this myself, and just thought of it as a very fun read. I would say it's on the lighter side, but there are some emotional moments and some heavy subject matters that gave it lots of substance.

Final Thought: If you are looking for something fun to read that's a bit different from your normal thriller/mystery then I definitely recommend this book. Just don't go into it expecting lots of characterization and depth because you aren't going to find it here; I went in with an open mind and I liked it just fine. It's also a very quick read even though it comes in at over 300 pages. If there are more books to this series I will definitely be reading them as well!

Girl with a Gun in 3-ish words: Unique, Inventive, Fun

[Maranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharp Shoot'n, 15 year old, trapper, Champion of women and Indians Annie Mosey wants to wrangle her man. Whether it is the murderer of Indian friend Kimi or Frank Butler the star of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Scoundrels appear in this 1885 telling of the adventures of Annie Oakley. Figuring out who is trying to do her wrong is complicated when her horse Buck is poisoned! Lots going on in Bovee's narrative that takes the reader back to the old west. Mosey on Back for a trip to the past. "A copy of this book was provided by Spark press via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."

[Jeri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I so wanted to love this mystery, but it fell a little flat for me.

We meet a young Annie who wins a shooting contest and is invited to join Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. She quickly accepts since she is the sole support for her mother and two younger siblings. Once Annie is on the road a young girl is found dead. This seems to bother Annie and sets her to investigating, even though others write the death off and Annie doesn't seem to have a real connection to the girl. With others coming to be in harms way it seems a murderer is on the loose and Annie does eventually solve the mystery.

The thing that bothered me was the lack of connection to other characters in the story. We are practically thrown into the mystery without any real connections being formed. I do appreciate that Annie Oakley was a woman almost bigger than life and women and girls now need to know of her.

I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.

[Randee Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

GIRL WITH A GUN is the first novel in the Annie Oakley Mystery Series by Kari Bovee. The historical mystery novel is Kari Bovee’s debut, and it will be published on June 19th 2018 by SparkPress.

Fifteen-year-old Annie Oakley has just joined Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, and her budding career as a female sharpshooter is not getting off to a good start. Yes, Annie is excelling at her new career, the audience in St. Louis adores her, and she is even besting Frank Butler – the man known as the best sharpshooter in the world. Annie is also taking to her newfound fame quite well. The problem is that dead bodies keep turning up in Annie’s general vicinity. First, Annie’s bunkmate, a young Indian woman, is found dead in their tent. Then Buffalo Bill’s former partner is found shot to death in the stands following one of their shows. Between investigating the mysterious deaths, practicing her tricks, and performing in the show, Annie is also trying to determine why her beloved horse keeps getting sick, figure out her potential romance with Frank Butler, and deal with a ghost from her past who is out to ruin her future. To solve the murders and the other criminal acts taking place around the campsite and arena for Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, Annie teams up with a local female reporter who has a suffragette agenda of her own.

I cannot even begin to describe how excited I was when I first heard about GIRL WITH A GUN. I loved the concept of a mystery novel surrounding Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. It was a very anxious wait to get my hands on a copy. As a huge fan of all things related to the American West, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Annie Oakley. The real Annie Oakley might not have solved any murders – or, for all we know, maybe she was an amateur detective – but she was a very fascinating woman. Back in the 1880s, not many women had careers – especially careers in show business. Yet there was Annie Oakley outshooting the best male sharpshooters in the world in various traveling shows and acting as an inspiration to women everywhere. Kari Bovee did an excellent job bringing the characters – both real and made up – to life. And she masterfully recreated Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.

GIRL WITH A GUN is a very entertaining, well-written novel. My only complaint is that there seems to be too much going on. There is the main story lies/plot and secondary storylines/subplot. None of it was hard to follow. It just got to be a little too much. Other than that, this is an amazing novel. GIRL WITH A GUN is a captivating romp back to the 1880s and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. The various mysteries are intriguing, the suspects are many with solid motives, and the red herrings will keep you guessing.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel stars a young Annie Oakley when she first joins Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show as a fifteen-year-old sharpshooter. She needs to money to support her mother and two younger siblings since the mother seems to only make bad choices in men since she became a widow. The current candidate is a drinker who has brought the family home near foreclosure.

The Show is a hotbed of secrets and jealousies. Annie's new and sudden popularity with the public has made for former star Frank Butler jealous. Also jealous is Twila who happens to be Bill's long-time lover. Twila brings her surrogate daughter Lillie Smith who is another sharpshooter. Lillie hates Indians, drinks too much whiskey, and seems to bring a new cowboy to their shared tent every night which makes her very different from Quaker Annie.

When Kimi, Annie's dresser and Native American, is found dead leaving behind a half-breed baby, Annie is sure she was murdered though the investigations says she died of natural causes. While Annie investigates, she is also being courted by Frank Butler and Derence LeFleur who is an older, married man who was influential in getting Annie the job with the Show.

Frank is having some issues with his shooting and so is Lillie since alcohol really doesn't help accuracy but Annie hasn't lost her touch except when someone sabotages her rifle. She and her horse Buck are stars. But then Buck becomes ill and listless. After some time, she becomes convinced that someone is trying to hurt him too.

This was an entertaining story set in 1885. I liked the variety of characters from Buffalo Bill to Sitting Bull. I liked the intrepid girl reporter who encourages Annie to participate in the budding Women's Suffrage Movement. I liked Annie even though I think she jumped to conclusions rather too quickly. I had identified the villain early in the story because of his general smarminess but there were still some plot twists that I didn't see coming.

Fans of historical mysteries will enjoy this story and look forward to more of Annie's adventures.

[Minerva Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I've read a western, but a great story is a great story! Bovee has an engaging, fun style that drew me in to the story from the beginning. Annie Oakley is an iconic figure in American history and Bovee does an excellent job depicting a woman who is resilient and clever and worthy of her larger-than-life image.

This was a a page-turner of a book I recommend to people who love history and great character-rich novels.

[Samantha Henthorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annie Oakley (actual wild west legend) leaves home to make money for her family. An established sharpshooter, she joins Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and ends up solving a murder mystery. I loved how historical facts were mixed up with historical fiction. Annie meets Lillian Smith (thrilled to learn of Lillian - my grandmother's name). At first, they are rivals. Lillian even stirs a bit of gossip between Annie and Frank. The shows continue and crime rises, Annie becomes even more of a hero.
I enjoyed how Annie and Frank drank champagne in the afternoon. And the beautifully entertaining writing 'dull, watery eyes of a drunken simpleton'.

[Kyra Leseberg (Roots & Reads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. Annie Oakley is a fascinating woman in history with plenty of sass, strength, and tricks up her sleeve. The concept of this book, a mystery surrounding the legendary entertainer while traveling with the Wild West Show, is excellent but the execution fell completely flat.
There was zero character development, the feelings the characters expressed for one another had little meaning because the author never shared the character's inner motivations or thoughts.
Even the initial mystery failed to pull me in because it happened at the beginning and we're supposed to believe there was a strong friendship between Annie and the victim when we barely know the characters at all and no back story is given to support that.
Girl with a Gun is a spectacular book idea that I see a lot of potential in but the execution was disappointing. Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for an ARC to review.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a fan of the Wild West. I can remember reading some stories about Annie Oakley. I used to pretend that I was her. Thus I was excited to read this book. After reading this book, I do have to comment and say that I thought this was a quick and nice read.

The author did a good job of stay true for the most part about Annie Oakley. She was a favorite for me in this book. Although, she was not the only one. There is Buffalo Bill and love interest Frank Butler. For the time period of this story and the characters; I did enjoy this book. However, I felt that the mystery aspect of the story was a bit weak. I had no strong reactions to things that transpired within the story. This is where I did want a bigger "bang". Final thoughts: An enjoyable read.

[Constance Maloney · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun idea - to have a mystery series with Annie Oakley a the main character! For the novelty alone, I give it 4 stars and I look forward to future books in the series. I have one complaint: this is a book that should have historical notes. When incorporating real life characters and events into a historical piece, many of us like having notes that explain what in the fiction was real and what was not, and on what information/events the characters and plots were based.

I appreciated seeing an author of easy-reading fiction incorporating references to the misconceptions of and prejudices towards Native Americans - thank you for this! (Here is a great example of how historical notes would have been helpful- scalping is referenced in the storyline - and a notes section could say that in the US it was first practiced by the European colonists agains the native population - it had not previously been a practice of Native Americans - they learned to do this from the colonists.)

This is an easy reading book, "historically cozy", enjoyable, and now I need to go online to see which of the principal characters and sub stories were based on true events.

[The Irregular Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept of a mystery story featuring Annie Oakley and Frank Butler, with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show as a backdrop is phenomenal and deeply interesting. Annie Oakley is an American legend whose life and career bridged the time period between America as a frontier and as a developed nation.

Unfortunately,the execution of this story did not live up to the concept. I found the pacing and the writing to be uneven, and the plot not fully thought out. Character development is also lacking. Annie Oakley may be a legend, but that does not mean we cannot see her grow and develop over the course of a story. RJ Koreto's Alice Roosevelt mystery series provides a good example of how to use real-life historical figures in a fictional setting.

However, as I said earlier, he concept is an interesting one. With more polish, and a better understanding of pacing and plotting, this series could be quite good.

[Tammy Buchli · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too many unnecessary historical inaccuracies. Annie Oakley was a fascinating woman who led a fascinating life, but nothing in this book reflected her. It’s as if the author did no research at all.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC ebook in exchange for a review.

[Vern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed your book Kari, well told story. The characters were well developed, a great story line that kept me turning the pages. Very cool....

[Jeanie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Girl with a Gun is intriguing and well written. The true to history facts hurt my heart but that reality is one of the important contributions of this excellent and complex mystery.

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take a journey back to the Wild West with Annie Oakley, Frank Butler, and the Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. While this is a fictional story, there are parts of this story based on fact which gave me a peek into the past while enjoying this story.

Annie is but 15 when hired as a sharpshooter for the Wild West Show. Considering the financial straits her family is in, she signs up with the show. What she doesn't expect is to become wrapped up in helping solve some murders with nothing more than her intuition and a few clues left behind. She has a little help from some new friends, but many still stand in her way and don't believe what she is saying and this shouldn't be a surprise since it is 1885 and men tend to think women don't know too much.

I thought Annie was spunky to leave her family at that age to join the show, but I understand the responsibility that she feels towards her family and helping them survive especially since her mom has taken up with a deadbeat that drinks any of the money that they receive. I felt like Annie had to grow up quickly at that point as she was thrust into the limelight with her rifle and pistol acumen and entertaining the crowds. While not everything worked out well in the shows, the crowds were entertained and enthralled by Annie's abilities. She was quite a celebrity!

The mystery is well crafted and while there are several red herrings tossed into the mix, I suspected who the killer was but didn't have too many facts to back up my gut instinct. I enjoyed following the clues and trying to firm up my guess with facts sprinkled throughout the book.

There is a little bit of romance too for Annie and Frank Butler. In a way, it seemed strange since she was just 15, but at the same time, this is a different world in the late 1800s and really shouldn't have been too surprising. I appreciate that the author stayed true to whom Annie married in real life.

There was one passage that really caught my eye between Annie and a suffragette named Emma Wilson, who was also a local reporter. This speaks volumes to me.

"I admire you, Annie. With your sweet face, you look like a prim little girl in those sparkly cowgirl outfits, but you are fierce - you are making a difference in the world of women, inspiring women to be stronger, to let the world know that women can be might without losing their femininity. Have you thought about joining the suffragette movement?"

Overall, this is an intriguing mystery and I look forward to reading the next book and where Annie's adventures take her (and I have an idea since this book ended with a clue!)

We give this book 4 paws up.

[Linda Grischy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book, it was entertaining. At 15, Annie gets an opportunity to join Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and becomes an overnight sensation. But terrible things continue to happen and people die. Annie finds herself in the middle. Romance, mystery and adventure! I knew little about Annie before reading the book, and although I haven't spent a lot of time researching, I believe it follows her life accurately.

[Cover Lover Book Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

Girl With a Gun is an interesting fictional mystery story about Annie Oakley. Of course, I’ve heard of her, but didn’t really know much of her history. As the author states, she took some liberties, but nonetheless, this is a good read.

Annie is easy to connect to, but I found it more difficult to connect with the other characters. They felt more surface level at times. To say this is a fun murder mystery sounds strange, but it really is entertaining. I liked Annie’s personality, with ample doses of vivacity and strength.

This is a quick read. The audiobook narration is crisp, with a clear tone and nice inflection in voice changes without being distracting. If you enjoy cozy type mysteries with sassy heroines, you’ll enjoy this one.

Disclosure: #CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this (audio)book.

[Ellen Notbohm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just what I wanted it to be—an engaging page turner and a chance to learn more about an iconic American woman during a transitional time in history. Most interesting to me was how the very young Annie, just 15 and already responsible for the financial support of her mother and siblings, had to quickly reconcile her Quaker sensibilities with the realities of the performing life in a traveling Wild West show. That she had little choice but to relinquish some of those strictures in the face of her living conditions set up an unavoidable juxtaposition of what happens when a “God-given” gift of extraordinary talent requires the gifted one to put aside some of those same God’s teachings in order to share that gift with the world and sustain her family. The book also intriguingly foreshadows Annie’s later life as an advocate for women’s causes. Although the body count went a little too high for me call the story “fun” (I have a low quease threshold), it’s definitely a romp ’em-stomp ’em read and made me want to learn a lot more about Little Miss Sureshot.

[Laura Boss · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true American romance with a polished mystery tucked inside - and with the added plus of learning about this time period in American history. What's not to love?

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do not confuse this book with another one I previously read titled Girl Waits With A Gun! That one was also historical fiction, also based on a real female character,and also first in a series. But I thought the other was a much better one. So, what I found less appealing in Girl With A Gun was it seemed to be written in a very simplistic style, I would call it YA (there is only one subtle sex scene), and also bordered on the romance category, which I hate.
That being said, I did read this book quickly and was interested in the story. Young Annie Oakley is spunky, brave, admirable, and loyal. Quite endearing traits. The murders and mystery are well done. So I gave it a 3 star rating instead of 2.
Annie is hired to be in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show at the age of 15 and she is excited to be recognized as a great sharpshooter, and to financially be able to save her family farm. But once in the show, people around her start dying, and Annie is afraid it is all related to someone wanting her out of the way.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows a young Annie Oakley when she joins Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. Soon after, her assistant suddenly dies and Annie suspects foul play. From there, a series of mysterious crimes and illnesses start taking place. Fearing she might be the next victim, it’s up to Annie to turn detective and find the culprit in this delightful read.

The author does a wonderful job of blending history and fiction. This is a well-researched book from the historical figures, sharpshooting, horsemanship, to costumes and daily life for those in the Wild West show in 1885. I was completely transported. It’s also written in a fast-paced style with a colorful cast of characters that had me turning the pages (and constantly guessing!). For fans of historical fiction, westerns, and/or mysteries, I highly recommend this book!

I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Cara Noyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book I did not want to put down! The only drawback was that I was able to figure out who dunnit by mid book. It is not your typical mystery, nor your typical Western. It is historical fiction, with murder and mayhem thrown in.

The characters are flawed but the vulnerabilities make them more believable. While I do not necessarily envision Annie Oakley as a sleuth, her investigation demonstrated intuition.

One of my favorite characters was the reporter who helped Annie by getting a retraction printed in the St. Louis newspaper. The author could create an entire series around this female reporter. She was a suffragette with an interesting family background and lots of spunk.

[Karol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads and I really enjoyed it. It held my interest thought out the whole book enough to get upset when I had to put it down. Great job Kari Bovee

[Denice Langley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love westerns and mysteries so decided this would be a perfect pick for an afternoon's read. I was right. The ladies in Buffalo Bill's shows were always a huge draw and Annie Oakley was one of the best. This story centers on her life as a young woman trying to get ahead and take care of her family. Then her assistant is murdered and she takes on the role of detective. What follows is an enjoyable read that includes many of the biggest names in western history.

[Katherine Cowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great novel using the historical character, Annie Oakley, and her time in the Wild West Show as a backdrop for murder. A murder that she must solve.

I loved the setting, the engaging characters, and especially how Annie Oakley's perspective was represented. I guessed the culprit rather early on, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the storytelling as the tension ramped up.

[Gerald Guy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie Oakley has always been a favorite westrn character for me. I enjoyed Bovee's take on the timeless heroine. I think the author expertly depicted the difficult transition she had to make from her poverty-stricken upbringing in Greenville, Ohio, to the sharp-shooting star of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. I wish the pace would have been a little more brisk, but a good read nonetheless.

[Janet Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beloved Annie Oakley is the main character in this book. The author paid close attention to the historical facts while spinning a tale of intrigue, romance and the Wild West show. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot recommend it enough. I can't wait for her to write another!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun mystery novel with good character development. Definitely worth reading.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable quick read with a relatable heroine. Nothing groundbreaking, more on the cozy scale.

[Nancy Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy and quick read. I quite enjoyed the Annie Oakley character and the entire story. I loved the atmospher and period of the story. I found it quite enjoyable.