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Savannah Secrets #8
Season’s Meetings
Christmas in Savannah offers a wealth of holiday traditions, including an annual tour of historic homes. As they make their rounds through the homes on the circuit, Julia and Meredith meet Cora Chisholm, a wealthy Savannah matron who is in need of their services. Hidden in the pages of Cora’s late mother’s Bible is an old newspaper photograph of five children from a rural neighboring county who were sold during the Great Depression. Why would Cora’s mother keep this photograph? What is her connection to these children? As the partners struggle to piece together the truth, they discover some shocking revelations.
Meanwhile, it’s a busy holiday season for Meredith and Julia as they handle smaller cases that have landed on their laps. While Meredith tracks down the truth about a worker’s injury, Julia is doing her best to avoid an old friend who has come knocking on their door. Does she really need Julia’s help, or is there another reason for her unexpected visit?
Meanwhile, it’s a busy holiday season for Meredith and Julia as they handle smaller cases that have landed on their laps. While Meredith tracks down the truth about a worker’s injury, Julia is doing her best to avoid an old friend who has come knocking on their door. Does she really need Julia’s help, or is there another reason for her unexpected visit?
Unknown Binding
Published January 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 24, 2025
I have not been enthusiastic about historical fiction written recently. I trust earlier writers of the
genre more than I do today’s—writers such as Edward Eggleston, Washington Irving, James
Fenimore Cooper. I’ve about decided to just stick with historical fiction alone, and try some of
the newer writers again. My reason, one of them, is that it’s so hard to tolerate today’s clichés in
fiction. I hear enough of them when I’m out and about. I don’t need to read it in books. Another
reason is that writers overdo the technology. I don’t care to know that someone is including an
emoji when sending a text message or internet message. I’ve never used such a thing and am
annoyed when the suggestion is given me when I’m sending a message electronically. I’m a
word man. Why does every book of fiction one reads today have to include all those gadgets? At
least that’s what it seems.
This author, Anne Marie Rodgers, is doing something right insofar as she’s prolific and is
published by prominent publishers. The book has a good story, which she says was suggested to
her upon seeing a similar account in a newspaper. An interview of a great-grandfather is
conducted apart from the main story as a school assignment by a young school boy. This was a
useful tool that gives the reader further information as the story progresses.
I don’t keep up much with changes in writing styles recommended by usage guides such as
Chicago Manual of Style. I have heard about some that I strongly disagree with and feel that it
corrupts the language, such as sentences that clearly don’t match pronouns. Another thing I was
told way back is that writers are to avoid using actual brand names. I don’t know if that has
changed or not, but it makes sense to me. And not only that, I hate the manufactured verb, to
google. Rodgers uses that “verb.” Why should we single out one search engine over others that
might be lesser known? Do they really need our help in promoting their brand? I hardly think so.
The writer clearly doesn’t understand much about genealogy. A character says, “We can track all my
aunts, uncles, and cousins back several generations.” There is no mention of searching auxiliary
lines, such as lines of in-laws, which can be a legitimate interest. I am interested in several
peripheral lines that parallel my own family tree. But if I’m researching my blood aunts, uncles
and cousins, I don’t need separate studies for each of these. My ancestors are their ancestors. Along that line, it makes no sense to me, as a genealogist, for a writer to tell us that someone has no living relatives. That is not possible. We are all descended from Adam and Eve.
It is established that Meredith and Dolly see each other some at church. Yet, when they meet
away from church, Dolly said to her, “Nice to see you again,” like they haven’t met in years.
In chapter eleven we first hear that Steven can give the investigators the phone number for
Sumner Denton’s grandson, as the way to contact him. Three pages later it turns into Sumner’s
son’s phone number, with no explanation. As we move along, we find it’s really Sumner’s
grandson with whom he lives. The son lives far away.
The book is fine, but a little more care could have been taken in the details.
genre more than I do today’s—writers such as Edward Eggleston, Washington Irving, James
Fenimore Cooper. I’ve about decided to just stick with historical fiction alone, and try some of
the newer writers again. My reason, one of them, is that it’s so hard to tolerate today’s clichés in
fiction. I hear enough of them when I’m out and about. I don’t need to read it in books. Another
reason is that writers overdo the technology. I don’t care to know that someone is including an
emoji when sending a text message or internet message. I’ve never used such a thing and am
annoyed when the suggestion is given me when I’m sending a message electronically. I’m a
word man. Why does every book of fiction one reads today have to include all those gadgets? At
least that’s what it seems.
This author, Anne Marie Rodgers, is doing something right insofar as she’s prolific and is
published by prominent publishers. The book has a good story, which she says was suggested to
her upon seeing a similar account in a newspaper. An interview of a great-grandfather is
conducted apart from the main story as a school assignment by a young school boy. This was a
useful tool that gives the reader further information as the story progresses.
I don’t keep up much with changes in writing styles recommended by usage guides such as
Chicago Manual of Style. I have heard about some that I strongly disagree with and feel that it
corrupts the language, such as sentences that clearly don’t match pronouns. Another thing I was
told way back is that writers are to avoid using actual brand names. I don’t know if that has
changed or not, but it makes sense to me. And not only that, I hate the manufactured verb, to
google. Rodgers uses that “verb.” Why should we single out one search engine over others that
might be lesser known? Do they really need our help in promoting their brand? I hardly think so.
The writer clearly doesn’t understand much about genealogy. A character says, “We can track all my
aunts, uncles, and cousins back several generations.” There is no mention of searching auxiliary
lines, such as lines of in-laws, which can be a legitimate interest. I am interested in several
peripheral lines that parallel my own family tree. But if I’m researching my blood aunts, uncles
and cousins, I don’t need separate studies for each of these. My ancestors are their ancestors. Along that line, it makes no sense to me, as a genealogist, for a writer to tell us that someone has no living relatives. That is not possible. We are all descended from Adam and Eve.
It is established that Meredith and Dolly see each other some at church. Yet, when they meet
away from church, Dolly said to her, “Nice to see you again,” like they haven’t met in years.
In chapter eleven we first hear that Steven can give the investigators the phone number for
Sumner Denton’s grandson, as the way to contact him. Three pages later it turns into Sumner’s
son’s phone number, with no explanation. As we move along, we find it’s really Sumner’s
grandson with whom he lives. The son lives far away.
The book is fine, but a little more care could have been taken in the details.
December 11, 2024
I always enjoy reading the adventures of Meredith and Julie. I love history, Savannah, and mysteries, so the books in this series have been great for me. I can't believe each book has been written by a different author. You would never know that. They all move so fluidly together.
I have been waiting about five months to read this book, which was next in the series for me because I wanted to read it during the Christmas season. I was just a tad bit disappointed there wasn't more holiday charm, I guess.
I have been waiting about five months to read this book, which was next in the series for me because I wanted to read it during the Christmas season. I was just a tad bit disappointed there wasn't more holiday charm, I guess.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews