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Anonymously Yours
Denise tries to do the right thing. She returns a lost wallet and finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery. To make things worse she needs to solve the crime and stroke the ego of an inept private investigator who happens to be her Uncle Bob. Don't miss the fun. Get your copy today.
- GenresAmazon
186 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2014
127 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Shirley McCann
26 books147 followersShirley McCann's short fiction has appeared in Woman's World, Alfred Hitchcock, and The Forensic Examiner, as well as many other publications.
The Morgue is her latest book in the six-book Scarry Inn series. She is currently working on book 4, The Chapel.
She lives in Springfield, MO where she loves spending time with her five grandchildren.
OUT OF HABIT IS NOT MY BOOK. NO CLUE HOW TO GET IF OFF MY PAGE
The Morgue is her latest book in the six-book Scarry Inn series. She is currently working on book 4, The Chapel.
She lives in Springfield, MO where she loves spending time with her five grandchildren.
OUT OF HABIT IS NOT MY BOOK. NO CLUE HOW TO GET IF OFF MY PAGE
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 1, 2014
Trying to take murder mysteries off game boards always seems like an exercise in absurdity. Of course it makes for great reading: ask anyone weaned on Miss Marple and the Hardy Boys. In real life, though, let’s get real. How many people will touch a dead body at a funeral home? That’s why the cops need to get murders solved in twenty-four hours before the trail grows cold. We tend to file murder away as quickly and painlessly as possible, otherwise someone with a big ugly grudge is liable to be waiting around the next corner. Crimes of passion beget passion, and when you start digging up stuff that the cops left buried, you’re liable to uncover some stink that you’ll wish you left alone in the first place. This is what Denise Thomas may well be thinking in Shirley Mccann’s Anonymously Yours.
In the spirit of David Lynch’s Blue Velvet, we find our amateur sleuth toiling away in a life of drudgery as a slop server in a greasy spoon eatery in Clayfield, Missouri (wasn’t Obama at Arthur Bryant’s in KC a few weeks ago?). A mystery diner inadvertently leaves his wallet behind, and our do-gooder takes it upon herself to return the item to its owner. Her eye-rolling boyfriend Justin Banks is the hot catch in Hicktown (next stop Springfield), and her antics are not guaranteed to keep her rival Heather Marlow out of his waistband. The cops are next to join the Anti-Denise League as her Girl Scout escapade dredges up memories of a ten-year-old cold case. The growing list of detractors is headed by the owner of Winslow’s Diner, as Harry suspects that Denise’s air-headedness is going to lead to far more than a couple of broken dishes. Only the reappearance of the wallet’s owner, Michael Black, reinforces Denise’s belief that she is onto something. This first-person narrative tells us from the get-go that she is going to prove the world wrong, and the author does an entertaining job in leading us down the slippery slope to find out whodunit.
Pick up a copy of Anonymously Yours by Shirley Mccann and find out whether the butler did it. You may discover that, as does Denise, catching the killer is where the trouble begins.
In the spirit of David Lynch’s Blue Velvet, we find our amateur sleuth toiling away in a life of drudgery as a slop server in a greasy spoon eatery in Clayfield, Missouri (wasn’t Obama at Arthur Bryant’s in KC a few weeks ago?). A mystery diner inadvertently leaves his wallet behind, and our do-gooder takes it upon herself to return the item to its owner. Her eye-rolling boyfriend Justin Banks is the hot catch in Hicktown (next stop Springfield), and her antics are not guaranteed to keep her rival Heather Marlow out of his waistband. The cops are next to join the Anti-Denise League as her Girl Scout escapade dredges up memories of a ten-year-old cold case. The growing list of detractors is headed by the owner of Winslow’s Diner, as Harry suspects that Denise’s air-headedness is going to lead to far more than a couple of broken dishes. Only the reappearance of the wallet’s owner, Michael Black, reinforces Denise’s belief that she is onto something. This first-person narrative tells us from the get-go that she is going to prove the world wrong, and the author does an entertaining job in leading us down the slippery slope to find out whodunit.
Pick up a copy of Anonymously Yours by Shirley Mccann and find out whether the butler did it. You may discover that, as does Denise, catching the killer is where the trouble begins.
December 8, 2014
In these days of mystery novels being known for their ‘big-screen’ settings where the events happen against large-scale backdrops, Shirley Mccann’s ‘Anomymously Yours’ was a refreshing change. There is an intimacy about this tale of a diner waitress, with aspirations to become a detective, finding herself thrust into a murder mystery, that had me recalling some of the best of Agatha Christie. In her story, we experience everything through the eyes of the protagonist, Denise Thomas, and as such also partake of her frustrations, anxiety and confusion as the story’s twists and turns are revealed.
Being a first-person narrative, it is a character-driven tale and, as lives are not made of murder alone, we also become involved with the protagonist’s relationship with her ex-boyfriend, back in town after a few years. It is a very believable story, mixing elements of a real cold case some thirty years ago, with the killing Denise finds herself involved with, and Mccann’s development of the distinct personas is excellent. Even secondary characters are clearly defined and given a solid backstory.
This is mystery-writing at its best and will appeal both to lovers of this genre as well as those who just enjoy great entertainment.
Being a first-person narrative, it is a character-driven tale and, as lives are not made of murder alone, we also become involved with the protagonist’s relationship with her ex-boyfriend, back in town after a few years. It is a very believable story, mixing elements of a real cold case some thirty years ago, with the killing Denise finds herself involved with, and Mccann’s development of the distinct personas is excellent. Even secondary characters are clearly defined and given a solid backstory.
This is mystery-writing at its best and will appeal both to lovers of this genre as well as those who just enjoy great entertainment.
September 1, 2014
4 1/2 stars
I'm not usually a big fan of mystery, but "Anonymously Yours" got my eye.
Denise was such a corageous heroine! I could really relate to her, understand her thoughts and actions (it was written in first person), even if I'd never have the guts to do some of the stuff she did.
So... you find a wallet and you return it, right? Easy peasy... not so much. At least not when a freaking body is involved (then missing), and suddenly there is someone following her, the police don't believe her... what the heck is going on? Read the book and find out!
I'm not usually a big fan of mystery, but "Anonymously Yours" got my eye.
Denise was such a corageous heroine! I could really relate to her, understand her thoughts and actions (it was written in first person), even if I'd never have the guts to do some of the stuff she did.
So... you find a wallet and you return it, right? Easy peasy... not so much. At least not when a freaking body is involved (then missing), and suddenly there is someone following her, the police don't believe her... what the heck is going on? Read the book and find out!
July 7, 2020
I enjoyed this book. It's a nice group of characters and there were a number of twists to keep you guessing, every time you suspect someone the main character starts to suspect them too, so you change your mind, for the record I was right. Wasn't really sure why she didn't call the police in the first place but glad she didn't otherwise there wouldn't have been a story.
When a customer leaves a wallet behind Denise's boss asks her to drop it off before coming into work in the morning. After knocking on the door and receiving no answer she walks in to find the body of a woman and noises coming from upstairs. She makes a break for it and only phones the police anonymously when she is safely away. The police aren't happy with the crank call. There is no body in the house and In fact the owner is away on a business trip. It's up to Denise to find out what really happened when the same body was he up on the beach. She has always wanted to be a detective but her parent's refused to let her work with her Uncle to learn the ropes but with them away what hey don't know can't hurt them. Right?
I liked the narrator she used her voice well to create the voices of the characters.
When a customer leaves a wallet behind Denise's boss asks her to drop it off before coming into work in the morning. After knocking on the door and receiving no answer she walks in to find the body of a woman and noises coming from upstairs. She makes a break for it and only phones the police anonymously when she is safely away. The police aren't happy with the crank call. There is no body in the house and In fact the owner is away on a business trip. It's up to Denise to find out what really happened when the same body was he up on the beach. She has always wanted to be a detective but her parent's refused to let her work with her Uncle to learn the ropes but with them away what hey don't know can't hurt them. Right?
I liked the narrator she used her voice well to create the voices of the characters.
September 3, 2020
Circles
Disappointing murder story that left me fee!ing it was just running in circles. The main characters , Denise and Justin, were a little too quick to make -up after 5 years apart. The conflict was too easily set up to be discovered by Denise. Unc!e Bob wasn't even the man Denise thought he was. Chaotic and wandering storyline made me think it was never going to end. Huge disappointment!
Disappointing murder story that left me fee!ing it was just running in circles. The main characters , Denise and Justin, were a little too quick to make -up after 5 years apart. The conflict was too easily set up to be discovered by Denise. Unc!e Bob wasn't even the man Denise thought he was. Chaotic and wandering storyline made me think it was never going to end. Huge disappointment!
April 4, 2020
Lots of twists and turns, though it definitely manages to stick to cozy mystery style.
Liked the main character. Didn’t like her boyfriend. If there becomes more of these (should the author decide to continue in a series following the Thomas & Thomas agency), the very first thing needed is an alternative to him. Cozy mystery series always have the lead in a sort of love triangle.
Liked the main character. Didn’t like her boyfriend. If there becomes more of these (should the author decide to continue in a series following the Thomas & Thomas agency), the very first thing needed is an alternative to him. Cozy mystery series always have the lead in a sort of love triangle.
September 5, 2020
Slow start, ends with a bang
I almost gave up on this book in the first chapter, but didn't want to get out of the shower dripping wet to try and find another book. Glad I waited, the story and characters came together quickly afterwards and I believe a nice little detective agency series will continue. One star off for the shaky start.
I almost gave up on this book in the first chapter, but didn't want to get out of the shower dripping wet to try and find another book. Glad I waited, the story and characters came together quickly afterwards and I believe a nice little detective agency series will continue. One star off for the shaky start.
September 6, 2020
A ridiculous story
Good logic isn't the forte of anyone in this story. It moves quickly because the author can't really tell a story. Denise leaps to conclusions and how can she possible think her boyfriend it's really concerned about her safety when they haven't talked for five years. Flat characters,it's just an episode with almost no back story.
Good logic isn't the forte of anyone in this story. It moves quickly because the author can't really tell a story. Denise leaps to conclusions and how can she possible think her boyfriend it's really concerned about her safety when they haven't talked for five years. Flat characters,it's just an episode with almost no back story.
September 17, 2020
This was an entertaining book. I liked the characters and the fact that Denise and her high school flame found each other again. The motivation for the bad guys could have been ramped up a bit. But it was still a good story.
November 15, 2020
Who could have guessed that a lost wallet would lead our heroine to solve a murder? Denise, a promising detective, is determined to solve a mysterious murder and start out her career along with her uncle detective.
A nice cozy mystery.
A nice cozy mystery.
June 26, 2021
Good, not great
A mystery story that has its ups and downs. The characters are well written. There are a few twists and turns along the way. In the middle it starts to get bit repetitive though. I was also not too pleased with the ending.
A mystery story that has its ups and downs. The characters are well written. There are a few twists and turns along the way. In the middle it starts to get bit repetitive though. I was also not too pleased with the ending.
January 13, 2022
Who killed Angelica?
Denise is working low paying diner and wants to go into law enforcement. Justin is former love of her life. There's a disappearing dead body, a stalker. Red Toyota. An uncle who's a private detective with dwindling business.
Denise is working low paying diner and wants to go into law enforcement. Justin is former love of her life. There's a disappearing dead body, a stalker. Red Toyota. An uncle who's a private detective with dwindling business.
May 13, 2018
Didn't seem to be much of a story.
May 25, 2016
A good mystery
Very good mystery book. It had me guessing who the real killer was until the very end. I really enjoyed reading this book, hoping to read more books by Shirley McCann!!!
Very good mystery book. It had me guessing who the real killer was until the very end. I really enjoyed reading this book, hoping to read more books by Shirley McCann!!!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews