Missing and Presumed Dead: A Chandler County Novel

Chandler County

by Cherime MacFarlane

Is Mrs. Dane dead? Did she give up and walk away or did Dane kill her? Grant needs to find out before he tries to get back with Crystal.
Grant remembered waking in a hospital bed with Crystal's hand on his forehead. And no matter how hard he begged, the girl said she must leave. She needed to get away from her father and couldn't stay with his family due to the generations-long feud. Crystal joined the Army. So did he. Then he came home, ran for sheriff and won. The first thing he did when in office was open the file labeled Missing and Presumed Dead. No one had seen or heard from the mother of the Dane children in years. Did her husband kill her as Royce Dane said? If not, how did she disappear without a trace? But things take an odd twist when he discovers his mother's involvement. Crystal likes everything about the man Grant is. But she isn't cut out for mixing in the upper echelon of Chandler County society. Her brother needs to know what happened to their mother, Crystal isn't so sure she cares. If her mother walked away from her children, Crystal doesn't need her now.

Genres: Romance

194 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 17, 2018

About the author

Although born in New Orleans, I am proud to call myself an Alaskan. I have lived here for 37 years, I have survived -40 degrees, hauled water, made bear bacon and live in a cabin. I used a fish wheel to catch salmon coming up the Copper River. I was my second husband's chief mechanic's helper and only roadie. I cut firewood on shares, worked as a cocktail waitress, then as a paralegal for over 26 years. I hold the #80 press card as a reporter for the Copper Valley Views newspaper which ceased publication in the 1980s. I've been writing stories since junior high. Retired now, I can devote my time to what I love.
I came to Alaska by way of Arizona and California. I experienced the building of the pipeline up close. Then my second husband and I moved to Wasilla to get warm. It hardly ever drops past -25 in South Central Alaska. I never thought I would love it so much I never want to leave. The beauty of Alaska is a draw I cannot resist. I love the people and the history. I have been captured by a place I came to under duress. Life does play some interesting tricks on one. I lost my first husband to alcohol. My second husband, the love of my life died as a result of disease. We were not apart more than 24 hours for 20 plus years . I never wanted to be anywhere but with him. He was a man to run the river with.

Reviews

[Rubina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a second chance story. Love it. A very entertaining read. It has many layers and that made the book very interesting. Crystal has a very shady past where her mom has gone missing. Now no one knows why her mother had gone missing and blame game was going on. In comes Grant with whom she has a blow hot and blow cold relationship and when their stubbornness comes in between, they join the army. After Grant returns he joins in as the Sheriff and the case of the missing mother reopens. Along with that opens old wounds and suspicion in which families of both the protag are caught up. Very well written and an interesting tale.

[Dominique Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m beginning to love this interlinked series where the Chandler County novel characters interweave with the Southwest of Homer series. And I’d never have predicted that I could have become such a fan, as when I was younger I hated being made to change viewpoints and being forced to watch my favourite characters from a distance in the next book.
I put my current change of heart down to a) maturity and b) the skill of Cherime MacFarlane who has created a great set of likeable characters and who writes with an engaging and warm style about them all, setting all sorts of realistic relationship problems against the convincing portrayal of various small and insular communities. Each book turns into a vignette – a window into a different couple’s world. And the next book beams in from a different angle, spotlighting another set of characters. Men are decent, women are resourceful, nature is harsh. I'm glad that circumstances meant I was forced to start this series as I would never have discovered it on my own. I find the covers of all the series off-putting - they look trashy romance/erotica - and trust me, these books are so much higher quality than that. Really worth reading.

[Jennifer Theriot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crystal Dane is a headstrong, independent woman. She has every reason to be bitter. Her mother went missing, was presumed dead and talk about town was that she had been murdered by her own husband. Crystal’s way of dealing with her crappy life was to join the army. The love of her life, Grant did the same.
When Grant came home from the service, he ran for Sheriff and won. High on his agenda was reopening the cold case of Crystal’s mother’s disappearance.
Crystal had feelings for Grant, but there had been a nasty feud between their two families for years.
This story has all kinds of things going on to keep your interest. There is the relationship between Grant and Crystal (or lack thereof because they are too stubborn to succumb to their feelings), a missing mother, a baby whose father is a dirty little secret around town and the feud.
After digging deeper into the cold case, Grant realizes that his own mother may hold a clue to what happened to Crystal’s mom.
Will Crystal let down her guard and let Grant love her? Is her mother really dead?

[J.B. Trepagnier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick read that intertwines romance, feuding families, and a missing persons investigation. I haven't read any of the other books in the Chandler County series, but I see that there are several. I don't know if the other books pick up where this one left off with a few of the characters who intrigued me in this book, but weren't the major players.

Johnny was a pretty heinous character, but there is a twist towards the end that makes me wonder if Johnny's story gets explored more and he gets some redemption later.

The characterizations in the book were great and there are good, strong characters. The characters that are supposed to be unlikable, like Johnny and Augie, are through out the entire book, then I have to wonder like I did with Johnny if we are going to go back in time and see how certain characters ended up the way they did.

Overall, a very entertaining read that makes me curious about the rest of the series

[Kayla Krantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crystal was a very strong, very relatable character. She’s had a tragic past with her mother missing and a less than optimal relationship with her love interest, Grant. In order to escape it all, she leaves to join the army as does Grant. After returning, the focus on Crystal’s missing mother is reopened. And the truth finally comes to light.

My favorite thing about Miss MacFarlane’s books is how real the characters are. Crystal has a haunted kind of feeling about her, and I think that was what drew me to her. Even when things were tough, she didn’t let her sorrow overwhelm her. She did what she could to fight through and do what she needed to do. Even though she is admittedly stubborn, I like that about her.

I also loved the suspense in this book. The feud between Grant’s and Crystal’s families was the icing on the literary cake.

[Christy Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for second chance stories, and this one delivers. I loved Crystal Dane as a strong, independent kick-ass heroine. The character reminds me a little of the character of Kate Beckett in Castle, though it’s her reluctant love interest, Grant, who is determined to dig into anything he needs to in order to discover the facts about Crystal’s mother’s disappearance, even if it means delving into his own mother’s past. There’s even a parallel between the sexual tension between Crystal and Grant. I love her disdain and disinterest in societal schmoozing, as it’s an attitude I share!

I recommend this book to those that love stories that dig relentlessly into dark, past secrets and strong characters.

[Jim Horn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery, intrigue, romance, rednecks... what's not to like?

Seriously this is a great flippin book. The pace speeds down the middle of the "action versus feelings" lane like a bowling ball on its way to hammer a strike. That means finish reading it or buy two copies before you rave about it to your spouse. Small towns hide mystery like old wood piles hide ants. You're in for one wild ride. Dang, everything I keep wanting to say is a spoiler... but I know better. This is a slice of the real Americana. It ain't the shiny kind Norman Rockwell painted. It's the messed up kind, as nice clean and tidy as a big truck coolin off from goin muddin. If you like small town mystery soaked in big time emotion like biscuits in gravy, this book's for you.

[Maya Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story on how old family frauds can create a ripple effect and mess up the lives of everyone involved hundreds of years later. In a small southern town such fraud breaks many hearts but love still finds a way at the end. A lot of drama and gossip help sheriff Grant in solving a case; the disappearance of the mother of his future wife Crystal. The girl he has loved since he was a young boy. Mistreatment of women, second chances, who fathered which child, domestic violence. You name it this book has it. There is a lot going on all at once and you would think it’ll be overwhelming but it somehow all works together and makes this novel a page turner. I enjoyed reading the book.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for a good suspense but mixed with romance so this one lured me in. Once I entered in curiosity took over and I was following Crystal and Grant in this one. Drama ranks high in this one with many things going on with the top one hence title missing mother of Crystal's. The where's and why's wraps you up tight in this as re connections go on also. This is also a second chance too. This was one that kept me in it which is hard to do nowadays with a good suspense. The other things will also keep your nose in it with plenty to fill your time with.