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Amanda Pennyworth Mysteries #2
Murder at the Olympiad
An American tourist is murdered in a Mexican gay sauna, and Amanda Pennyworth, the American consul to Puerto Vallarta, risks her career and her life to find the culprit.
Amanda Pennyworth works with a junior officer of the Tourist Police in search of suspects in the secretive underworld of a beautiful resort. When a young Mexican boy is arrested on flimsy evidence, Amanda is convinced it is a terrible mistake. But no one is willing to listen to her: not the arrogant chief of police; not the boy’s parents who seem to blame her for the murder; and not the cynical American Ambassador who only wants to avoid an international incident. It’s up to her.
In Murder at the Olympiad by James Gilbert, we travel to the popular resort city of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and follow Amanda as she is drawn into the search for the killer of a young American. When she finally identifies the killer, she also discovers some very unpleasant truths about the Foreign Service in which she serves.
Amanda Pennyworth works with a junior officer of the Tourist Police in search of suspects in the secretive underworld of a beautiful resort. When a young Mexican boy is arrested on flimsy evidence, Amanda is convinced it is a terrible mistake. But no one is willing to listen to her: not the arrogant chief of police; not the boy’s parents who seem to blame her for the murder; and not the cynical American Ambassador who only wants to avoid an international incident. It’s up to her.
In Murder at the Olympiad by James Gilbert, we travel to the popular resort city of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and follow Amanda as she is drawn into the search for the killer of a young American. When she finally identifies the killer, she also discovers some very unpleasant truths about the Foreign Service in which she serves.
- GenresFiction
276 pages, Paperback
Published October 20, 2021
1 person is currently reading
1265 people want to read
About the author
James Gilbert
5 books29 followers I always wanted (and intended) to write fiction but I had to wait beyond a profession in academics to begin my second life as a novelist. As a historian, I published ten books on American culture, and I was fortunate enough to spend a number of years as visiting professor in Europe and Australia. This was immensely satisfying, but it still didn't fulfill my desire to write imaginative works--to be free from the objectivity demanded by the history profession.
Toward the end of my academic career, I began to become aware--painfully aware--of the limitations of historical writing, and I turned to fiction because of its ability to imagine (without footnotes) the interior thoughts, motivations, and expression of character.
I began my new career cautiously. My first venture was a self-published book of short stories, entitled, SECRETS AND STRANGERS. This was really an apprenticeship for my next book entitled THE KEY PARTY (a satire on the golf community where I grew up).
My next novel, ZONA ROMANTICA, was published in the spring of 2020 with the amateur sleuth, Amanda Pennyworth, the American Consul to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Completely different from my first novel, it is a mystery in an exotic, but familiar setting.
A third novel appeared in October, 2020, entitled TALES OF LITTLE EGYPT. This was a new genre of writing for me and took the unusual format of thirteen integrated stories about imaginary characters who lived in Marion, Illinois at the turn of the 19th Century, in the unique area called "Little Egypt."
Following that, I returned to writing mysteries, and published MURDER AT THE OLYMPIAD, also set in Puerto Vallarta and with the same sleuth as ZONA ROMANTICA.
The latest book in this Amanda Pennyworth series, and appearing just now is MURDER AT AMAPAS BEACH.
All of my novels, (and I think necessarily), reflect my experiences and memories disguised and re-imagined by fiction. TALES OF LITTLE EGYPT, for example, is loosely based upon my childhood summers spent in Southern Illinois, and the extended family which is my heritage there. And the mystery series set in Puerto Vallarta is based on several trips to that popular tourist destination and my fascination with the mixture of cultures (Mexican and American) that define this vacation Mecca. It seemed to me the perfect setting involving a sleuth who must navigate between two cultures to solve a crime.
Toward the end of my academic career, I began to become aware--painfully aware--of the limitations of historical writing, and I turned to fiction because of its ability to imagine (without footnotes) the interior thoughts, motivations, and expression of character.
I began my new career cautiously. My first venture was a self-published book of short stories, entitled, SECRETS AND STRANGERS. This was really an apprenticeship for my next book entitled THE KEY PARTY (a satire on the golf community where I grew up).
My next novel, ZONA ROMANTICA, was published in the spring of 2020 with the amateur sleuth, Amanda Pennyworth, the American Consul to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Completely different from my first novel, it is a mystery in an exotic, but familiar setting.
A third novel appeared in October, 2020, entitled TALES OF LITTLE EGYPT. This was a new genre of writing for me and took the unusual format of thirteen integrated stories about imaginary characters who lived in Marion, Illinois at the turn of the 19th Century, in the unique area called "Little Egypt."
Following that, I returned to writing mysteries, and published MURDER AT THE OLYMPIAD, also set in Puerto Vallarta and with the same sleuth as ZONA ROMANTICA.
The latest book in this Amanda Pennyworth series, and appearing just now is MURDER AT AMAPAS BEACH.
All of my novels, (and I think necessarily), reflect my experiences and memories disguised and re-imagined by fiction. TALES OF LITTLE EGYPT, for example, is loosely based upon my childhood summers spent in Southern Illinois, and the extended family which is my heritage there. And the mystery series set in Puerto Vallarta is based on several trips to that popular tourist destination and my fascination with the mixture of cultures (Mexican and American) that define this vacation Mecca. It seemed to me the perfect setting involving a sleuth who must navigate between two cultures to solve a crime.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 16, 2022
Set in Mexico, Murder at the Olympiad by James Gilbert is an enjoyable gentle crime novel. Amanda Pennyworth is the American consul to the resort city, Puerto Vallarta when an American tourist is murdered in a Mexican gay sauna. Amanda is not convinced when a young Mexican boy is arrested, as the police only focused on locals, and deem the case solved. Yet one Tourist Policeman is not sure and together with Amanda investigates further. Amanda is ordered on leave by her ambassador, given he is not happy with her interference. A sabbatical trip to Los Angeles enables Amanda to solve the mystery but no one seems to care or want to enact real justice. This is the second in a series and makes for an enjoyable read with a three and a half star rating. My thanks to Atmosphere Press and the author, for an uncorrected advanced reader copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.
December 15, 2021
Readers who are looking for a fascinating cultural context would do well to pick up this book. Not only does it offer a great protagonist and a fast paced plot line, it is set in a location somewhat out of the ordinary and I found this added great richness to the experience.
February 24, 2022
Perfectly paced murder mystery with our returning strong female lead, Amanda Pennyworth, and colorful characters in a tourist town in Mexico. Fans of drama will get their fix in this title as the family of the deceased had more emotional baggage than is affordable to check with any airlines. Great ending that I didn't see coming. Couldn't put this book down.
September 6, 2022
Read this if you like: Whodunit, procedural cop stories, strong females leads
This is a second book in a series. I read it without read the first. I did enjoy the murder mystery. I found Amanda to be the perfect female lead. I love the setting to this book having been to Puerto Vallarta myself. This was a great read!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the gifted ebook!
This is a second book in a series. I read it without read the first. I did enjoy the murder mystery. I found Amanda to be the perfect female lead. I love the setting to this book having been to Puerto Vallarta myself. This was a great read!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the gifted ebook!
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May 18, 2022MURDER AT THE OLYMPIAD ventures beyond the suspense of the average whodunit to craft an impressive work of literary fiction.
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2022/05/12/murde...
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2022/05/12/murde...
February 4, 2022
Great mystery
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews