What do you think?
Rate this book
Cotton Lee Penn Historical Mystery #2
Premonition
Shot while hunting in 1972, Anselm Bannon is the first clue in a literary mystery that began in 1864. Cotton Lee, hired by Max Mayfair to help investigate Anselm’s death, finds ten gold coins minted in the Civil War in Anselm’s satchel. The gold coins turn out to be a gift delivered in 1864 by Union soldier Albert Bannon to his southern mistress, Sophie, who is pregnant with his child. Sophie gives the coins to her enslaved black maid in payment for killing the baby. Albert dies an unexplained death soon after, and the black woman flees to freedom with the white child. The gold disappears for more than a century until Cotton Lee opens the satchel. Once the gold is exposed, the secrets of 1864 begin to leak into 1972.Each Tower Lowe mystery involves characters with autism, physical impairments, mental impairments, etc. These characters are part of the narrative life of the novel, not the subject of the book. Her upcoming release features Spree, a neurodiverse character who is a key member of a family detective agency. Silencing Sistine by Tower Lowe is not being submitted to publishers.
322 pages, Paperback
First published January 27, 2019
10 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Tower Lowe
19 books53 followersMystery. Suspense. Empowered women. Tower Lowe (aka Donna Pecherer) tells stories set in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Homeville, Virginia. Her mysteries empower women and unconventional characters from all walks of life. She was born in Virginia and lives in Santa Fe.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 24, 2019
An intoxicating new mystery series
New Mexico author Tower Lowe (aka Donna Tower Pecherer) is published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and is the author of mystery novellas and 6 full-length novels featuring Cinnamon and Burro – each novel named for a different city in New Mexico where Tower finds mysteries that both keep the reader in suspense while completely entertaining them/us! She lives in New Mexico, but grew up in Virginia – the location of this series new series – the Cotton Lee Penn Historical Mysteries – equally as successful as her New Mexico series. As she has stated in her bio, Tower Lowe was a real person and Donna Tower Pecherer was named for her. Tower suffered from epilepsy, and died as a result of burns suffered during an epileptic seizure. So she has our attention even before we start the story.
Tower opens her story in 1972 in Virginia manages to paint such vivid images of place and characters and atmosphere that he transports us in time beautifully: ‘Anselm Bannon held his shotgun loosely at his waist as he slogged through thick underbrush toward his deer stand in Sussex County, Virginia. He arrived and opened his satchel. Dogs barked in the distance and a twig cracked nearby. Anselm held still. A male deer, antlers high into the blue sky, stopped some fifteen yards ahead. Anselm made eye contact. Deep in the brown iris, he saw a story unfold. A small boy with damp hair and pink hands reached up, asking Anselm to hold him. The hunter thought to lift the child, but the figure grew to six feet and became a young blond man with a mustache, holding a law book in long curved fingers.’ And it is with this manner of intensity that the mystery unfolds - hypnotizing the reader.
This is a very fascinating mystery from history as the synopsis shares: ‘Shot while hunting in 1972, Anselm Bannon is the first clue in a mystery that opens up a generational saga. Cotton Lee, hired by Max Mayfair to help investigate Anselm’s death, finds ten gold coins minted in 1862 in Anselm’s satchel. The gold coins turn out to be a gift delivered in 1864 by Union soldier Albert Bannon to his southern mistress, Sophie. Albert dies an unexplained death and the gold disappears for more than a century until Cotton Lee opens the satchel. Once the gold is exposed, the secrets of 1864 begin to leak into 1972.’ The major character Cotton Lee Penn is a very strong female character whom we will grow to know through this fine new series.
Tower Lowe is in peak form both as a story weaver and a first class writer. Few can capture the essence of the past with the style Tower displays. This series begs to be cinematic.
New Mexico author Tower Lowe (aka Donna Tower Pecherer) is published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and is the author of mystery novellas and 6 full-length novels featuring Cinnamon and Burro – each novel named for a different city in New Mexico where Tower finds mysteries that both keep the reader in suspense while completely entertaining them/us! She lives in New Mexico, but grew up in Virginia – the location of this series new series – the Cotton Lee Penn Historical Mysteries – equally as successful as her New Mexico series. As she has stated in her bio, Tower Lowe was a real person and Donna Tower Pecherer was named for her. Tower suffered from epilepsy, and died as a result of burns suffered during an epileptic seizure. So she has our attention even before we start the story.
Tower opens her story in 1972 in Virginia manages to paint such vivid images of place and characters and atmosphere that he transports us in time beautifully: ‘Anselm Bannon held his shotgun loosely at his waist as he slogged through thick underbrush toward his deer stand in Sussex County, Virginia. He arrived and opened his satchel. Dogs barked in the distance and a twig cracked nearby. Anselm held still. A male deer, antlers high into the blue sky, stopped some fifteen yards ahead. Anselm made eye contact. Deep in the brown iris, he saw a story unfold. A small boy with damp hair and pink hands reached up, asking Anselm to hold him. The hunter thought to lift the child, but the figure grew to six feet and became a young blond man with a mustache, holding a law book in long curved fingers.’ And it is with this manner of intensity that the mystery unfolds - hypnotizing the reader.
This is a very fascinating mystery from history as the synopsis shares: ‘Shot while hunting in 1972, Anselm Bannon is the first clue in a mystery that opens up a generational saga. Cotton Lee, hired by Max Mayfair to help investigate Anselm’s death, finds ten gold coins minted in 1862 in Anselm’s satchel. The gold coins turn out to be a gift delivered in 1864 by Union soldier Albert Bannon to his southern mistress, Sophie. Albert dies an unexplained death and the gold disappears for more than a century until Cotton Lee opens the satchel. Once the gold is exposed, the secrets of 1864 begin to leak into 1972.’ The major character Cotton Lee Penn is a very strong female character whom we will grow to know through this fine new series.
Tower Lowe is in peak form both as a story weaver and a first class writer. Few can capture the essence of the past with the style Tower displays. This series begs to be cinematic.
June 10, 2019
A story that flits between two periods in history, the esrly 70' and the background of the American Civil War, to get to the bottom of a mystery on why a young man was murdered in the woods, and what connects this with some gold coins.
Peggy Cotton Miller is the sleuth determined to get to the bottom of it, a pretty girl with a hip withered by polio, and therefore stigmatised in the eyes of the community. As such, often underestimated by her peers.
The tensions and inequality between the black and white communities is also explored throughout, where slavery was still rife, yet emotional attachments still strong between slave and owner. The effects of the American Civil war, where whole communities were pit against each other is also explored, as are the effects of war on tender and easily traumatised psyches. However, the 70's are not depicted as times of great enlightenment either.....
Cotton must unravel the hidden story behind the history of the coins to find the murderer, as well as dig into ith the present and past of the conmunity around her, to get to the bottom of the mystery, which seems to centre around some gold coins that were handed from one recipient to another within these conflicted and mixed communities.
The detail in the recounting of the past has a good, authentic feel to it. So does the awareness of how much ignorance there still was in the 70's towards either Blacks or those with disabilities as has been seen, though these are not rammed down the reader's throat.
So here is another intriguing new sleuth heroine to watch.....
Peggy Cotton Miller is the sleuth determined to get to the bottom of it, a pretty girl with a hip withered by polio, and therefore stigmatised in the eyes of the community. As such, often underestimated by her peers.
The tensions and inequality between the black and white communities is also explored throughout, where slavery was still rife, yet emotional attachments still strong between slave and owner. The effects of the American Civil war, where whole communities were pit against each other is also explored, as are the effects of war on tender and easily traumatised psyches. However, the 70's are not depicted as times of great enlightenment either.....
Cotton must unravel the hidden story behind the history of the coins to find the murderer, as well as dig into ith the present and past of the conmunity around her, to get to the bottom of the mystery, which seems to centre around some gold coins that were handed from one recipient to another within these conflicted and mixed communities.
The detail in the recounting of the past has a good, authentic feel to it. So does the awareness of how much ignorance there still was in the 70's towards either Blacks or those with disabilities as has been seen, though these are not rammed down the reader's throat.
So here is another intriguing new sleuth heroine to watch.....
May 14, 2019
Pleasantly Surprised
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
With that being said, historical mystery is not my typical genre; however as the storyline and characters began to build I became more intrigued.
There are a lot of characters and names to keep track of. The transition from past to present is still consistent from book one. It all comes together nicely and works.
Well done.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
With that being said, historical mystery is not my typical genre; however as the storyline and characters began to build I became more intrigued.
There are a lot of characters and names to keep track of. The transition from past to present is still consistent from book one. It all comes together nicely and works.
Well done.
May 2, 2019
Very enjoyable mystery
I enjoyed my first read of this series. Another of those stories that flips back and forth between the situation and the characters' shared early years. Didn't see the ending coming but it was perfectly plausible.
I enjoyed my first read of this series. Another of those stories that flips back and forth between the situation and the characters' shared early years. Didn't see the ending coming but it was perfectly plausible.
March 4, 2019
‘What I want to know is who shot him and why.’
This story is set in Homeville, Virginia. There are two mysteries here: one set in 1972, the other in 1864 and there is more than one link between the two.
In 1972, Anselm Bannon is shot dead on a hunting trip. There are a few suspects (life in a small town can be complicated), and Cotton Lee Penn is hired by local lawyer Max Mayfair to help investigate the death. Anselm had a satchel with him when he died, and Cotton Lee opens it to find ten gold coins minted in 1862.
‘Why would Anselm carry a pile of antique twenty-dollar pieces on a hunting trip?’
In 1864, Albert Bannon and his brother Sheldon are Union soldiers based in Homeville. They’ve each been paid fifteen gold coins to take the place of other men. Albert Bannon gives his coins to Sophie Duval after she becomes pregnant with his child.
As Cotton Lee digs deeper to try to find out who killed Anselm Bannon and why, we are also reading about the events of 1864. Sophie’s baby is part of the answer. And that’s about as much detailed information as I want to share without spoiling the story.
This is the second of Tower Lowe’s novels to feature Cotton Lee Penn. Cotton Lee is a wonderful character. She is frequently underestimated by those who focus on the physical legacy of her polio rather than her cleverness. Cotton Lee uses this to her advantage as she gleans the information she needs.
And yes, both mysteries are satisfactorily solved but not without a few twists. Along the way, we get a sense of life during the American Civil War, quite a few connections between past and present and some wonderfully realised characters.
Highly recommended, and I’m hoping for a third instalment.
Note: My thanks to the author for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
This story is set in Homeville, Virginia. There are two mysteries here: one set in 1972, the other in 1864 and there is more than one link between the two.
In 1972, Anselm Bannon is shot dead on a hunting trip. There are a few suspects (life in a small town can be complicated), and Cotton Lee Penn is hired by local lawyer Max Mayfair to help investigate the death. Anselm had a satchel with him when he died, and Cotton Lee opens it to find ten gold coins minted in 1862.
‘Why would Anselm carry a pile of antique twenty-dollar pieces on a hunting trip?’
In 1864, Albert Bannon and his brother Sheldon are Union soldiers based in Homeville. They’ve each been paid fifteen gold coins to take the place of other men. Albert Bannon gives his coins to Sophie Duval after she becomes pregnant with his child.
As Cotton Lee digs deeper to try to find out who killed Anselm Bannon and why, we are also reading about the events of 1864. Sophie’s baby is part of the answer. And that’s about as much detailed information as I want to share without spoiling the story.
This is the second of Tower Lowe’s novels to feature Cotton Lee Penn. Cotton Lee is a wonderful character. She is frequently underestimated by those who focus on the physical legacy of her polio rather than her cleverness. Cotton Lee uses this to her advantage as she gleans the information she needs.
And yes, both mysteries are satisfactorily solved but not without a few twists. Along the way, we get a sense of life during the American Civil War, quite a few connections between past and present and some wonderfully realised characters.
Highly recommended, and I’m hoping for a third instalment.
Note: My thanks to the author for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
March 3, 2019
"Cotton Lee sat back down on the cool steps to finish her tea. She thought about Anselm and Reni, and the Vietnam War that took Bedford away. In a trance of dark trees and brisk air, she tried to move back more than a hundred years to a time when a Union soldier left solid gold United States coins with his enemies. Or did the enslaved black people somehow get the coins? Or did those frightened Southern women, worried about starving, steal the gold pieces?".....
Cotton Lee is back in this historical mystery. This time she’s drawn into a perplexing murder, someone that her and friends know. Anselm is found shot to death in the woods. Is one of her friends a possible suspect?
A strange twist are the gold coins found on Anselm’s body. Minted in 1862, these coins have a story behind them as well. In 1864 the coins were a gift from a Union Soldier to a mistress. When the soldier dies the coins had disappeared, at least until 1972 when they are found on Anselm. Two mysterious deaths with the gold coins in common. Can Cotton Lee figure out what the connection is?
A trip back in time when everything was so different. A story of the south, and the results of war. Cotton Lee is a wonderful character. The story is told between two different times, but seamlessly brought together in the end. A fateful tale told so well, that you can feel yourself slipping into this story and back in time. A story of secrets revealed, and coins traveling through time.
Thank you Tower Lowe
Cotton Lee is back in this historical mystery. This time she’s drawn into a perplexing murder, someone that her and friends know. Anselm is found shot to death in the woods. Is one of her friends a possible suspect?
A strange twist are the gold coins found on Anselm’s body. Minted in 1862, these coins have a story behind them as well. In 1864 the coins were a gift from a Union Soldier to a mistress. When the soldier dies the coins had disappeared, at least until 1972 when they are found on Anselm. Two mysterious deaths with the gold coins in common. Can Cotton Lee figure out what the connection is?
A trip back in time when everything was so different. A story of the south, and the results of war. Cotton Lee is a wonderful character. The story is told between two different times, but seamlessly brought together in the end. A fateful tale told so well, that you can feel yourself slipping into this story and back in time. A story of secrets revealed, and coins traveling through time.
Thank you Tower Lowe
March 3, 2019
Set in the 1860s and the 1970s, this book offers a slightly different look at the Civil War and the people caught up in it both as it happened, and as descendants of those same people.
This is the second of the Cotton Lee books, and as soon as I knew it was available, I had pre-ordered a copy. As it happened, I was on a road trip when it arrived in my Kindle, and imagine my surprise when I discovered Homeville VA actually exists! Alas, I did not have the time to visit, though I was fairly close. Which is probably goodness, as I'd have been on the search for Miss Cotton Lee herself.
Cotton Lee is a survivor of polio (poor thing) and lives in the South (poor thing) and was raised to be a spinster invalid (poor thing). I mean, who in their right mind would want to marry a gal who limps (poor thing)?? Fortunately for our heroine, she has ignored most of those people around her and is currently employed as a private eye for the local lawyer. He sees a very capable young lady, not a (poor thing).
The Civil War swirls around Homeville back when, and the Viet Nam war swirls around Homeville in the present when. To be honest, I may not have bought the book had I realized half was centered in the Civil War. I am, frankly, a little tired of people who are still fighting it. Rest Assured, Mz Lowe is NOT still fighting that war, and the perspective of her characters actually gave some much-needed balance to it!
A marvelous read. Buy it, read it, enjoy it!
This is the second of the Cotton Lee books, and as soon as I knew it was available, I had pre-ordered a copy. As it happened, I was on a road trip when it arrived in my Kindle, and imagine my surprise when I discovered Homeville VA actually exists! Alas, I did not have the time to visit, though I was fairly close. Which is probably goodness, as I'd have been on the search for Miss Cotton Lee herself.
Cotton Lee is a survivor of polio (poor thing) and lives in the South (poor thing) and was raised to be a spinster invalid (poor thing). I mean, who in their right mind would want to marry a gal who limps (poor thing)?? Fortunately for our heroine, she has ignored most of those people around her and is currently employed as a private eye for the local lawyer. He sees a very capable young lady, not a (poor thing).
The Civil War swirls around Homeville back when, and the Viet Nam war swirls around Homeville in the present when. To be honest, I may not have bought the book had I realized half was centered in the Civil War. I am, frankly, a little tired of people who are still fighting it. Rest Assured, Mz Lowe is NOT still fighting that war, and the perspective of her characters actually gave some much-needed balance to it!
A marvelous read. Buy it, read it, enjoy it!
February 21, 2019
Once again, Tower Lowe has crafted a compelling mystery that links past and present and weaves all the threads together to create an enjoyable mystery that will linger long after the last page is turned. I couldn't wait to return to these characters, and this second book in the Cotton Lee series does not disappoint. This is a story peopled with situations and emotions that cut straight to the human heart and are so finely drawn that you will not forget them. The mystery of the gold coins is intriguing, but I would probably want to read about these people no matter what they were doing. I loved the blend of past and present and felt joy and sorrow over their plight. Cotton Lee herself is a wonderful character and her story in and of itself is what captures my heart. Every book by Tower Lowe is exceptional and I, for one, can't wait until the next one.
February 6, 2019
I have eagerly been waiting for the second "Cotton Lee Penn" book as the first was so enjoyable. It's amazing how Tower Lowe can combine pieces of the past with pieces of the present and brings things to such logical conclusions. Please note; I never tell you about the story, you've read the blurb so there's nothing more I will say about it. What you do have to know is the characters in these novels actually come to life. How lucky we are that Tower Lowe has created a character who, supposedly has a disability, in other people's minds, not hers. An intelligent, clear thinking, proud individual who I know has many, many more problems to solve and I wait patiently for the next in this series.
February 27, 2019
This story starts in Homeville, Virginia in both 1972 and 1864. It tells a tale of mistrust, deceit, infidelity, and murder. The author begins in 1972 with murder and flashes back to the civil war period to provide the background of a secretive family with interracial relations. I admire Lowe's success in actually bringing together two separate stories and numerous characters. This is the fourth review I have done for Tower Lowe and without a doubt, Premonition has proven to be her most difficult undertaking. If you admire an author's technical skills you will be delighted when you read this saga.
May 15, 2019
Tale of Two Times
The story unfolds in two time periods more than a hundred years apart, with both times in past. The link between the two periods takes some time to appear but helps to solve the murder that presents itself at the start of the story.
There is a complex set of characters and relationships to the tale. I needed to read slowly to keep everyone straight. Fortunately, the writing style is captivating enough to have kept my attention from front to back.
The suspense builds, in both times, to an ultimate resolution that is not necessarily predictable, but somewhat satisfying.
Good presentation on how the American Civil War affected some lives for generations.
The story unfolds in two time periods more than a hundred years apart, with both times in past. The link between the two periods takes some time to appear but helps to solve the murder that presents itself at the start of the story.
There is a complex set of characters and relationships to the tale. I needed to read slowly to keep everyone straight. Fortunately, the writing style is captivating enough to have kept my attention from front to back.
The suspense builds, in both times, to an ultimate resolution that is not necessarily predictable, but somewhat satisfying.
Good presentation on how the American Civil War affected some lives for generations.
January 31, 2019
A Great Whodunnit with Southern Flavor
I can’t wait for more Cotton Lee Penn! There were so many possibilities and I thought I’d guessed the killer...until the very end! I recommend it!
I can’t wait for more Cotton Lee Penn! There were so many possibilities and I thought I’d guessed the killer...until the very end! I recommend it!
May 19, 2019
Historical Mystery
Intriguing mystery spanning a century of American history. The author wove a fine tapestry of greed and passion set against the backdrop of America's tragic civil war.
Recommended reading for any history/mystery buff.
Intriguing mystery spanning a century of American history. The author wove a fine tapestry of greed and passion set against the backdrop of America's tragic civil war.
Recommended reading for any history/mystery buff.
May 31, 2019
I read the first book in the Cotton Lee Penn historical mysteries back in 2015. I enjoyed it a lot. I especially like the character Cotton Lee who suffered from polio and people who thought she couldn’t do anything with a limp other than sit at home and stare at the wall.
Cotton has returned with a new case. Like before, author Lowe uses dueling timelines. This time the periods are 1864-1885 to 1972 and involve some rare gold coins from the Civil War era.
The story opens with the mysterious death of Anselm Bannon. He was out deer hunting when he was hit by a bullet. Was it a stray or did someone have in it for him?
Although this novel has a good story, its execution is awful. Author Lowe didn’t remind readers of who many characters were and how they intersected with each other. For example, going back to my review of the first book, I had noted that Max Mayfield was a lawyer who often hired Cotton Lee to help him with his investigations. Unfortunately, I didn’t think to go back and read that first review until I had finished this new work. I was lost with most of the characters, trying to figure out who was who and why they were involved in the story.
Besides not reminding readers of existing characters’ background, there are numerous errors in the book. There are missing words, wrong names, run on or fragmented sentences that don’t work. And it was convoluted…I felt the story was going in circles.
But like I said, the mystery of the gold coins was quite interesting. It fired my imagination in ways not connected to this work. The most frustrating part of the book was that after 324 pages, I’m not sure who killed Anselm Bannon or the origins of the gold coins.
Normally I would give “Premonition: A Cotton Lee Penn Historical Mystery” 1 out of 5 star, but since the gold coins did strike an interest that kept me reading the entire work, I give “Premonition: A Cotton Lee Penn Historical Mystery”2 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.
Cotton has returned with a new case. Like before, author Lowe uses dueling timelines. This time the periods are 1864-1885 to 1972 and involve some rare gold coins from the Civil War era.
The story opens with the mysterious death of Anselm Bannon. He was out deer hunting when he was hit by a bullet. Was it a stray or did someone have in it for him?
Although this novel has a good story, its execution is awful. Author Lowe didn’t remind readers of who many characters were and how they intersected with each other. For example, going back to my review of the first book, I had noted that Max Mayfield was a lawyer who often hired Cotton Lee to help him with his investigations. Unfortunately, I didn’t think to go back and read that first review until I had finished this new work. I was lost with most of the characters, trying to figure out who was who and why they were involved in the story.
Besides not reminding readers of existing characters’ background, there are numerous errors in the book. There are missing words, wrong names, run on or fragmented sentences that don’t work. And it was convoluted…I felt the story was going in circles.
But like I said, the mystery of the gold coins was quite interesting. It fired my imagination in ways not connected to this work. The most frustrating part of the book was that after 324 pages, I’m not sure who killed Anselm Bannon or the origins of the gold coins.
Normally I would give “Premonition: A Cotton Lee Penn Historical Mystery” 1 out of 5 star, but since the gold coins did strike an interest that kept me reading the entire work, I give “Premonition: A Cotton Lee Penn Historical Mystery”2 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.
September 25, 2023
I just finished reading two books that are part of a series by Tower Lowe, and I gotta say I really, really like the writing style. I've said this before that Tower Lowe’s writing style is reminiscent of Maya Angelou’s writing, and I strongly believe that. I love the way that she one, tells a story with just basic plot structure, and two, manages to weave in themes and powerful imagery to draw the reader into the story in a much deeper way. This combined with the older time period of the story gives it a classic feel. I do also want to acknowledge that Cotton Lee is a strong protagonist and such an empowering female character. I can’t wait to see what’s next for her and neither can you!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews