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Stella Crown Mystery #3
To Thine Own Self Be True
Stella Crown rarely takes a break from managing her Pennsylvania dairy farm unless it's to take a spin on her Harley, but in the midst of the Christmas season she treats herself to a new tattoo. Halfway through the sitting at Wolf Ink, her tattoo artist and his wife, Mandy, disappear into the back room. Stella, whipped, dozes off and, when she awakes and they've not come back, she drives home. Before long, the police arrive to inform her that Mandy has been discovered dead behind the tattoo parlor, while Wolf is nowhere to be found.
Angry and guilt-stricken that she hasn't protected her friends, Stella--something of a suspect herself--sets out to assist the cops and rescue the missing Wolf. And to ask, where is their young son, also missing?
With the help of another tattoo artist and an old flame who's arrived at the farm, Stella dives into the world of tattooing, where she finds not only a close-knit and knowledgeable community, but also an underworld of back alley hacks, stolen designs, and violent patrons, plus some looming and controversial state legislation.
Stella, stymied by more suspects than answers, is dragged yet again into a realm full of greed and danger when all she wants is to be left alone to run her farm and figure out the rest of her life. But first she must do everything in her power to get Wolf back where he belongs.
Angry and guilt-stricken that she hasn't protected her friends, Stella--something of a suspect herself--sets out to assist the cops and rescue the missing Wolf. And to ask, where is their young son, also missing?
With the help of another tattoo artist and an old flame who's arrived at the farm, Stella dives into the world of tattooing, where she finds not only a close-knit and knowledgeable community, but also an underworld of back alley hacks, stolen designs, and violent patrons, plus some looming and controversial state legislation.
Stella, stymied by more suspects than answers, is dragged yet again into a realm full of greed and danger when all she wants is to be left alone to run her farm and figure out the rest of her life. But first she must do everything in her power to get Wolf back where he belongs.
- GenresMysteryMystery Thriller
226 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
7 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Judy Clemens
15 books80 followersJudy Clemens is the author of LEAVE TOMORROW BEHIND, the newest book in the Anthony and Agatha-nominated Stella Crown mysteries. She also writes the Grim Reaper mysteries, and wrote LOST SONS, which is a stand-alone.
She lives in the beautiful state of Ohio with her family.
She lives in the beautiful state of Ohio with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 20, 2014
To Thine Own Self Be True marks the third entry in the Stella Crown mystery series that began with Till the Cows Come Home. Stella, a fiercely independent dairy farmer in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, had really begun to mellow a bit in the second book in the series, Three Can Keep a Secret; she had been so whiny and self-pitying and self-righteous and — well, prickly as a cactus — in the first one that I could barely force myself to read it to the end.
Stella’s not quite as abrasive as she was in the first novel, but she’s pretty bad. She’s so full of herself that she can’t bear to allow anyone else to handle the investigation into a murder and disappearance. Gee! Who knew that no one else is as incisive, observant, and fearless as you, Stella? She blames herself for the death at the heart of the novel, as if she could have done anything; how self-important! To give you some idea of how irritating she was in this book, I was rooting for her to get arrested when she has a run-in with some police officers. Not a good sign for the heroine of a book.
The mystery in To Thine Own Self Be True is an intriguing one: a tattoo artist disappears and his wife is found dead behind the tattoo parlor. The novel provides an interesting look at a subculture. Unfortunately, Stella proves pretty unlikable and the resolution to the mystery is simply not believable. The book’s not terrible, but it’s bad enough that I won’t be reading any further in the series.
Stella’s not quite as abrasive as she was in the first novel, but she’s pretty bad. She’s so full of herself that she can’t bear to allow anyone else to handle the investigation into a murder and disappearance. Gee! Who knew that no one else is as incisive, observant, and fearless as you, Stella? She blames herself for the death at the heart of the novel, as if she could have done anything; how self-important! To give you some idea of how irritating she was in this book, I was rooting for her to get arrested when she has a run-in with some police officers. Not a good sign for the heroine of a book.
The mystery in To Thine Own Self Be True is an intriguing one: a tattoo artist disappears and his wife is found dead behind the tattoo parlor. The novel provides an interesting look at a subculture. Unfortunately, Stella proves pretty unlikable and the resolution to the mystery is simply not believable. The book’s not terrible, but it’s bad enough that I won’t be reading any further in the series.
November 3, 2021
To Thine Own Self Be True by Judy Clemens is the third book of the Stella Crown mystery series set in contemporary Pennsylvania farm country. Stella owns and runs a dairy farm, carrying on family tradition. She has fought hard to keep it, against sabotage, extreme weather, violent death of loved ones. The farm is everything to her; she cherishes and is comforted by viewing her land and her heifers.
As Christmas approaches, Stella grieves the death of lifelong friend/mentor Howie. To memorialize Howie forever, she goes to tattoo artist friends Wolf and Mandy to get "Howie" tattooed around her wrist. Partway through ("How" tattooed), Mandy calls to Wolf from the back room. He goes to see what she needs. Stella is so exhausted from her farm schedule, she falls asleep while waiting for Wolf to return. Cold wakes her. Wolf and Mandy are not in the salon; the back door is open. It is snowing heavily. Stella tries phoning and knocking on their door. No answer. Stella risks being stuck in deep snow drifts, unable to get home, if she waits longer. The cows need milking. She returns to her farm.
To her horror, Stella learns from the news that Mandy is dead, Wolf missing. She feels horrible guilt that she was there but didn't save them from attack. Stella knows that tattoo artists are unlikely to speak freely to the police. She visits her tattoo artist friends to ask questions, stressing the need to find Wolf. She shares clues or hints with a friendly, competent police detective who understands the value of an 'insider' getting key information.
It's interesting to learn in detail how reputable and safe tattoo salons are operated, how "flash" (sample artwork) is displayed on the walls, how premises and equipment are kept strictly clean.
Stella's life is further turned topsy-turvy when Nick Hathaway unexpectedly arrives. She loves her solitary life, is determined not to give in to his charm. He lives in Virginia; she loves her farm.
Stella persists as she uncovers many secrets, treachery, deception, crimes...her insights and her loyalty to her friends finally lead to solving the crimes. At the end of the holidays, 'alone' starts to mean 'lonely'. Stella takes a big risky step. I look forward to reading more of the series, to see if/how her life changes.
As Christmas approaches, Stella grieves the death of lifelong friend/mentor Howie. To memorialize Howie forever, she goes to tattoo artist friends Wolf and Mandy to get "Howie" tattooed around her wrist. Partway through ("How" tattooed), Mandy calls to Wolf from the back room. He goes to see what she needs. Stella is so exhausted from her farm schedule, she falls asleep while waiting for Wolf to return. Cold wakes her. Wolf and Mandy are not in the salon; the back door is open. It is snowing heavily. Stella tries phoning and knocking on their door. No answer. Stella risks being stuck in deep snow drifts, unable to get home, if she waits longer. The cows need milking. She returns to her farm.
To her horror, Stella learns from the news that Mandy is dead, Wolf missing. She feels horrible guilt that she was there but didn't save them from attack. Stella knows that tattoo artists are unlikely to speak freely to the police. She visits her tattoo artist friends to ask questions, stressing the need to find Wolf. She shares clues or hints with a friendly, competent police detective who understands the value of an 'insider' getting key information.
It's interesting to learn in detail how reputable and safe tattoo salons are operated, how "flash" (sample artwork) is displayed on the walls, how premises and equipment are kept strictly clean.
Stella's life is further turned topsy-turvy when Nick Hathaway unexpectedly arrives. She loves her solitary life, is determined not to give in to his charm. He lives in Virginia; she loves her farm.
Stella persists as she uncovers many secrets, treachery, deception, crimes...her insights and her loyalty to her friends finally lead to solving the crimes. At the end of the holidays, 'alone' starts to mean 'lonely'. Stella takes a big risky step. I look forward to reading more of the series, to see if/how her life changes.
June 17, 2017
Better and better
Each book in this series is better than the previous one. I really like Stella and the recurring cast of characters. I'm ready to start on the next one.
Each book in this series is better than the previous one. I really like Stella and the recurring cast of characters. I'm ready to start on the next one.
June 14, 2020
Stella gets through the Christmas holidays with a surprise visit from Nick, and investigates the local tattoo artist who has been kidnapped and his wife killed.
Smooth read.
Smooth read.
August 28, 2021
3.5 stars, rounded up
August 19, 2008
It’s almost Christmas in Pennsylvania, which means lots of cold and snow. Stella Crown is nice and warm, enjoying a visit with Mandy and Wolf Ink. Mandy is regaling them with tales of the tattoo trade while Wolf works on a new tattoo for Stella. She’s getting an ID bracelet with Howie’s name as the focal point. When the session is interrupted, Stella falls asleep. Nobody is around when she wakes up, so she leaves, planning on returning another day.
When the police show up on her doorstep, she knows that something dreadful has happened. Mandy is dead, left to freeze to death by whoever hit her upside the head. Wolf is missing, which makes him the natural suspect as far as the police are concerned. Anyone who knows Wolf doesn’t believe this. To assuage her guilt, because she left without finding Mandy in time to keep her from freezing, Stella decides to investigate. She believes, probably correctly, that she will have much better luck getting her questions answered within the tattoo sub-culture than any cop will, no matter how sympathetic. The cop working the case is very flexible for a cop; it would be nice to see more of her in future books.
She gets a lot of help in her quest from Nick, a blast from her past. He’s the guy who was painting her barn and charming her socks off, two books back. That little scenario went out the window when Stella found out he was a developer, and that he had lied to her. Nick shows up in the middle of a blizzard, which means he winds up sleeping on her couch. Lots of tension all around, as one might imagine.
Stella and Nick find that there is a lot she doesn’t know about Wolf and Mandy. They are far more political, at least about body art, than Stella ever dreamed. As in any sub-culture, there are good guys and bad guys; Nick and Stella meet people all along that spectrum as they try to find Wolf and prove that he didn’t kill Mandy.
This is the third in the Stella Crown series. Stella is growing as a character; one would almost have to grow, considering all the ups and downs that Clemens gives her to cope with. While the plot isn’t all that challenging, the exploration of the tattoo world is fascinating and educational. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Clemens takes a woman with what would seem to be a fairly ordinary life and just writes the bejesus out of the situation. Reading about a blizzard in the middle of July wasn’t all bad, either!
When the police show up on her doorstep, she knows that something dreadful has happened. Mandy is dead, left to freeze to death by whoever hit her upside the head. Wolf is missing, which makes him the natural suspect as far as the police are concerned. Anyone who knows Wolf doesn’t believe this. To assuage her guilt, because she left without finding Mandy in time to keep her from freezing, Stella decides to investigate. She believes, probably correctly, that she will have much better luck getting her questions answered within the tattoo sub-culture than any cop will, no matter how sympathetic. The cop working the case is very flexible for a cop; it would be nice to see more of her in future books.
She gets a lot of help in her quest from Nick, a blast from her past. He’s the guy who was painting her barn and charming her socks off, two books back. That little scenario went out the window when Stella found out he was a developer, and that he had lied to her. Nick shows up in the middle of a blizzard, which means he winds up sleeping on her couch. Lots of tension all around, as one might imagine.
Stella and Nick find that there is a lot she doesn’t know about Wolf and Mandy. They are far more political, at least about body art, than Stella ever dreamed. As in any sub-culture, there are good guys and bad guys; Nick and Stella meet people all along that spectrum as they try to find Wolf and prove that he didn’t kill Mandy.
This is the third in the Stella Crown series. Stella is growing as a character; one would almost have to grow, considering all the ups and downs that Clemens gives her to cope with. While the plot isn’t all that challenging, the exploration of the tattoo world is fascinating and educational. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Clemens takes a woman with what would seem to be a fairly ordinary life and just writes the bejesus out of the situation. Reading about a blizzard in the middle of July wasn’t all bad, either!
August 5, 2012
I am enjoying this series. Stella Crown is an interesting character - a diary farmer (no, not in Wisconsin, but in the eastern U.S.), with a bit of an edge. She has motorcycle and tattoos. I don't have anything against either of those things; however they are aspects I don't think you would normally associate with a dairy farmer.
The author has a very delicate and delft touch too. I'm not sure if these are the best terms to describe the story, but basically Stella is investigating the murders on her own, as so, so many cozy heroines do. I don't think of this book as a cozy, though. There is a subtle reason for her to be the focus and locus of the investigation. She is looking into the murder of a tattooist, a group that doesn't have the best reputation and respectability most of society would enjoy. Though this book does go to some pains to explain not all tattooist are seedy and questionable people, the fact that this is a counter culture, in a sense, explains why Stella can pursue an investigation in that culture easier and maybe more completely than the police.
She is a bit reckless and impatient, as so many stupid cozy heroines are; but she is not totally foolhardy. She is a tough woman, doing tough job and running her own farm. I think this gives her some experience and respectability most cozy heroines can only envy. But again, I don't think of this as a cozy mystery. Its much too thoughtful for that.
The author has a very delicate and delft touch too. I'm not sure if these are the best terms to describe the story, but basically Stella is investigating the murders on her own, as so, so many cozy heroines do. I don't think of this book as a cozy, though. There is a subtle reason for her to be the focus and locus of the investigation. She is looking into the murder of a tattooist, a group that doesn't have the best reputation and respectability most of society would enjoy. Though this book does go to some pains to explain not all tattooist are seedy and questionable people, the fact that this is a counter culture, in a sense, explains why Stella can pursue an investigation in that culture easier and maybe more completely than the police.
She is a bit reckless and impatient, as so many stupid cozy heroines are; but she is not totally foolhardy. She is a tough woman, doing tough job and running her own farm. I think this gives her some experience and respectability most cozy heroines can only envy. But again, I don't think of this as a cozy mystery. Its much too thoughtful for that.
April 17, 2011
I had not heard of this author, but she seemed prolific so I picked her earliest book I could easily find (I think this is #3 in the Stella Crown series. Not a bad read, although as is common these days the ending was rather ridiculous and the villain's motive contrived and the rapport of the heroine with the police unrealistic, and other plot glitches. Still, if I happen to remember her name, I may in the future try another one.
January 24, 2015
It's easy for me to get lost in Stella Crown's life and forget my own. I have to run to keep behind her at her non-stop pace. The story takes us on a journey through several tattoo parlors and some politics as Stella helps the cops with leads as to what happened to her tattoo artist and who killed his wife.
My theory on who was responsible was incorrect. A good read even though I'm more interested in the farming part of Stella's life rather than the biker part.
My theory on who was responsible was incorrect. A good read even though I'm more interested in the farming part of Stella's life rather than the biker part.
December 27, 2008
Somewhat of a slow moving mystery with the main character dealing with a lot of personal issues along while helping to solve the murder of a friend and find her missing husband and another person who is helping her. Background for the story deals with tattoo artists.
April 29, 2010
Still enjoying these books. One more to go in this series--hopefully can finish before we leave on our trip since it is a library book. Only criticism is not sure police generally are so accepting of private citizens running around trying to solve crimes.
February 18, 2012
Another good book in the series. This one has Nick snowed-in and stuck at Stella Crown's Royalcrest Farms. I enjoyed that although the killer basically admitted he was the killer right off the bat, making the connections as to how every character was related became the interesting puzzle.
April 2, 2013
Stella and her friends investigate the murder of a friend and the kidnapping of her husband. I love this series and am looking forward to many more books by Ms Clemens. I'm rooting for Stella and hoping she finds happiness and not so much sadness in her future.
March 13, 2016
Judy Clemens continues to introduce her readers to likeable characters sporting tattoos, riding Harley motorcycles, and ranging from God-fearing to fear inducing! These are good people, easily stereotyped. Some deserve the labels and they are here too.
February 18, 2007
This is the 3rd of the Stella Crown mysteries. Not as good as her last two - but still tough to put down and a really simple read.
January 14, 2011
I laughed a lot while reading this "cozy" mystery. a cast full of characters.
April 11, 2011
So far I have liked this book the best of the series. This was a quick read.
September 19, 2011
Stella Crown and her cows, her tattoo friends, her motorcycle club, her Mennonite family....and a great looking land developer. Great story!
January 4, 2014
I must say this is the most unusual mystery series. How many mystery series are about a female dairy farmer with tattoos and her tattooed friends? Somehow it works.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews