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A Newspaper in Texas #1
Sins of Omission
Would You Kill to Keep a Secret? Bob Anderson — local banker, city council member, and now murder victim — had the goods on a bunch of people in Plains City, Texas. Everybody wants those files; no one can find them.Katy Williams was hired to make the Plains City Gazette into a modern newspaper. She's got enough on her plate with the newspaper, a Texan boyfriend, and Texas in general. She's understaffed, overworked and just grateful to get the newspaper out every day.But someone wants Bob Anderson's files bad enough to kill. He's killed once, and he's willing to do it again to keep his sins hidden. Unfortunately for Katy, half the town want those files, for all kinds of reasons. And they think she has them.Katy can either find the files and publish, or she can end up as the next victim of a very determined murderer.First in a historical mystery series, A Newspaper in Texas, set in the 1980s.
229 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2013
About the author
L.J. Breedlove
116 books96 followersL.J. Breedlove is a former journalist writing about what she knows: complicated people, small towns, big cities, cops, reporters, politicians, assorted bad guys. Mystery novels.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 15, 2022
At first, I thought this story was heavy on working all the generalities about Texans. But the more I thought about all stuff in the news these past number of years coming out of Texas, I became convinced this book probably wasn’t generalized or fictitious at all.
August 20, 2021
A good mystery with a couple of flaws
I am not usually one for stories from the past - even if it's just the recent (as in the 1980's) past, but Breedlove's story about a newspaper in East Texas prior to the internet was fun. The heroine is a transplant from the northwest, so there are more than a few shrewd observations about Texas manners and habits.
it's a good whodunit that sets up a cast of characters in the newsroom & in the town for future stories. Murders. Corruption. A hint of incest. And, quite refreshingly, a character introduced late in the story with AIDS. And interestingly enough, he's an opening to develop an other character, who , up until then was an enigma. It will be interesting when the series (now inevitably) deals with red neck homophobia.
Add to that mix some very good background of publishing a daily paper. Kudos for all the accuracy around that. Why not five stars? It's a simple - the story was discriminating at a good clip and I was brought up short by a typo as it was coming to a close. And then another and another (just the three). Having discovered that I can actually communicate with my kindle, I sent them in. Perhaps that should only have cost half a star. Never the less, they so disrupted the flow that I had to cite them.
The era of electronic publishing seems to have brought on a wave of typos. Probably because the series weren't going to be caught by a spell checker. "Though" is a word - but the story one demanded the word "thought". So either the author needs an editor or the editor needs a proofreader - or maybe an advanced reader group.
I am not usually one for stories from the past - even if it's just the recent (as in the 1980's) past, but Breedlove's story about a newspaper in East Texas prior to the internet was fun. The heroine is a transplant from the northwest, so there are more than a few shrewd observations about Texas manners and habits.
it's a good whodunit that sets up a cast of characters in the newsroom & in the town for future stories. Murders. Corruption. A hint of incest. And, quite refreshingly, a character introduced late in the story with AIDS. And interestingly enough, he's an opening to develop an other character, who , up until then was an enigma. It will be interesting when the series (now inevitably) deals with red neck homophobia.
Add to that mix some very good background of publishing a daily paper. Kudos for all the accuracy around that. Why not five stars? It's a simple - the story was discriminating at a good clip and I was brought up short by a typo as it was coming to a close. And then another and another (just the three). Having discovered that I can actually communicate with my kindle, I sent them in. Perhaps that should only have cost half a star. Never the less, they so disrupted the flow that I had to cite them.
The era of electronic publishing seems to have brought on a wave of typos. Probably because the series weren't going to be caught by a spell checker. "Though" is a word - but the story one demanded the word "thought". So either the author needs an editor or the editor needs a proofreader - or maybe an advanced reader group.
September 15, 2022
There’s always that secret place!
Cool lady, smooth operator and a great story. Got the twists and turns that will keep the pages turning past your bedtime! Breedlove is a good writer.
Cool lady, smooth operator and a great story. Got the twists and turns that will keep the pages turning past your bedtime! Breedlove is a good writer.
August 19, 2021
Fun!
This book has a lot of mystery and of course, Texan humor. I look forward to more from the writer. 😀
This book has a lot of mystery and of course, Texan humor. I look forward to more from the writer. 😀
August 24, 2021
Devious Politics
This was a real page turner. I could not stop reading this book until I finished. It was suspense from beginning to end.
This was a real page turner. I could not stop reading this book until I finished. It was suspense from beginning to end.
November 16, 2021
An interesting story, very well told. It only has one short-coming--it took me more an an afternoon to get it read.
Thanks for a really good read.
Thanks for a really good read.
June 24, 2026
Sins of Omission is a well paced read!
To do nothing when confronted with the chance to do something right is a sin of omission. This story about a small town in Texas is told by an outsider from Oregon who is editor of the local newspaper. Katy is literally married to her job and fortunately, she uses her job to help solve the murder of a beloved city council member, Bob Anderson. This small town near Dallas seems to be owned and operated by one family, the Kemp family. The plot involves banking, real estate developments, blackmail, and murder. As a journalist, Katy’s responsibility is to deliver the news to the public. She is in a relationship with Andrew, a local judge.
The storyline and characters are well developed. I liked the ease in reading the story as the topic of bank failures was most enlightening. Can Johnny Kemp save his own bank from failure? Will Katy stay in Texas or move on? Guess only book 2 will answer those questions.
I liked it well enough to read in one day! Love the journalism references.
To do nothing when confronted with the chance to do something right is a sin of omission. This story about a small town in Texas is told by an outsider from Oregon who is editor of the local newspaper. Katy is literally married to her job and fortunately, she uses her job to help solve the murder of a beloved city council member, Bob Anderson. This small town near Dallas seems to be owned and operated by one family, the Kemp family. The plot involves banking, real estate developments, blackmail, and murder. As a journalist, Katy’s responsibility is to deliver the news to the public. She is in a relationship with Andrew, a local judge.
The storyline and characters are well developed. I liked the ease in reading the story as the topic of bank failures was most enlightening. Can Johnny Kemp save his own bank from failure? Will Katy stay in Texas or move on? Guess only book 2 will answer those questions.
I liked it well enough to read in one day! Love the journalism references.
January 10, 2023
Fast Paced and Well Written Mystery
Good characters, good plot twists, and an interesting setting. I picked up the book because one of my friends is friends with the author. It was a good recommendation. I was quickly drawn into the story, cared about the main character, and pleased with how the plot was revealed. I will definitely read more from this author, especially from this series.
Good characters, good plot twists, and an interesting setting. I picked up the book because one of my friends is friends with the author. It was a good recommendation. I was quickly drawn into the story, cared about the main character, and pleased with how the plot was revealed. I will definitely read more from this author, especially from this series.
May 27, 2023
Sins of Omission
As in all of LJ Breedloves books, her characters are amazing. I particularly liked the twists and turns of this book. The story was wonderful and full of angst. I was absorbed into it from the start, and as always, can't wait to read thed next one. ♥️♥️
As in all of LJ Breedloves books, her characters are amazing. I particularly liked the twists and turns of this book. The story was wonderful and full of angst. I was absorbed into it from the start, and as always, can't wait to read thed next one. ♥️♥️
June 13, 2024
good read
There were a lot of typo’s. You could kinda figure out who it was about half way through. No major surprises.
There were a lot of typo’s. You could kinda figure out who it was about half way through. No major surprises.
June 23, 2025
best I have read yet
Kept me riveted right until the end. Never did figure it out until it was almost done and that is rare for me
Kept me riveted right until the end. Never did figure it out until it was almost done and that is rare for me
April 23, 2026
Great writer
Second book I've read by this author and love both! Such sitting on the edge of your seat page turners! Action! Heartache! Death. It has everything!
Second book I've read by this author and love both! Such sitting on the edge of your seat page turners! Action! Heartache! Death. It has everything!
June 16, 2026
Not what I was expecting
This is a fun read. Enduring characters and a wildly winding plot. Loved the 70s & 80s references. Will read more in this series.
This is a fun read. Enduring characters and a wildly winding plot. Loved the 70s & 80s references. Will read more in this series.
June 18, 2026
I loved the way the story progressed and grew. I especially loved the last two segments/locations. (I don't want to give anything away.)
Great book
Great book
June 26, 2026
Decent story. Good character development.
September 8, 2023
Um romance histórico que nos mostra a importância do jornalismo investigativo responsável, e de como a omissão pode ser tão criminosa quanto a própria ação do crime. Adorei a protagonista. Muito bom.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews