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Emma Fielding Mystery #4
A Fugitive Truth
The past's blood stains the present
The opportunity of a lifetime awaits archaeologist Emma Fielding in the Berkshire foothills of Western Massachusetts: the chance to study the eighteenth-century diary of Margaret Chandler, the accused witch and murderess whose home Emma excavated only months before. However, the three other Shrewsbury Foundation fellows she must share the premises with are a disturbingly odd bunch, and before too long one of them is dead.
But Emma can find no solace in the bleak beauty of the surrounding wilderness, for there are dark secrets encoded in Madam Chandler's writings, and shocking parallels between an ancient slaying and the strange brutal demise of her colleague.
When the killer strikes again, Emma realizes her own life is at stake. And suddenly there is no choice left: she is driven to investigate bloody crimes past and present -- before her own death becomes a footnote in a chilling, three-centuries-old story.
The opportunity of a lifetime awaits archaeologist Emma Fielding in the Berkshire foothills of Western Massachusetts: the chance to study the eighteenth-century diary of Margaret Chandler, the accused witch and murderess whose home Emma excavated only months before. However, the three other Shrewsbury Foundation fellows she must share the premises with are a disturbingly odd bunch, and before too long one of them is dead.
But Emma can find no solace in the bleak beauty of the surrounding wilderness, for there are dark secrets encoded in Madam Chandler's writings, and shocking parallels between an ancient slaying and the strange brutal demise of her colleague.
When the killer strikes again, Emma realizes her own life is at stake. And suddenly there is no choice left: she is driven to investigate bloody crimes past and present -- before her own death becomes a footnote in a chilling, three-centuries-old story.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
35 people are currently reading
487 people want to read
About the author
Dana Cameron
49 books110 followers[From the author's own website]
I was born and raised in New England and I live in Massachusetts now, with my husband and benevolent feline overlords. Mine is a quiet, fairly ordinary life. I love that because it's what saves me from an overdeveloped sense of paranoia and a tendency to expect the worst. Combined with an eye for detail and a quirky take on life, these traits give me a vivid internal life, one that's sometimes a little nerve-wracking, but very useful for writing mystery and suspense.
My interest in archaeology stems from childhood, where my interest in books and the opportunities I had to travel made me begin to think about cultural differences. The thing I like best about this work is that it is a real opportunity to try and resurrect individuals from the monolith of history. I've worked on prehistoric and historical sites in the U.S. and in Europe, and like to teach, in the field, in museums, in the classroom, and through writing.
In my first book, Site Unseen, my protagonist Emma Fielding discovers that archaeologists are trained to ask the same questions that detectives ask: who, what, where, when, how, and why. When I started on these books, I realized that archaeology is also good training for writing because research, logic, and persistence are so important to both endeavors.
Naturally, that training worked with the archaeology mysteries--and it also helped with my first short story, "The Lords of Misrule," a historical mystery which appeared in the anthology, Sugarplums and Scandal. But how has it worked when I've tackled subjects as seemingly diverse as werewolves ("The Night Things Changed" in Wolfsbane and Mistletoe and "Swing Shift" in Crimes By Moonlight) and noir ("Femme Sole," in Boston Noir)? Easy: it's all about getting into someone else's shoes and walking around for a while. Preferably, getting into (fictional) trouble while you do it. Asking "what if?" and thinking about how culture and subcultures--in addition to personality--shape behavior.
I was born and raised in New England and I live in Massachusetts now, with my husband and benevolent feline overlords. Mine is a quiet, fairly ordinary life. I love that because it's what saves me from an overdeveloped sense of paranoia and a tendency to expect the worst. Combined with an eye for detail and a quirky take on life, these traits give me a vivid internal life, one that's sometimes a little nerve-wracking, but very useful for writing mystery and suspense.
My interest in archaeology stems from childhood, where my interest in books and the opportunities I had to travel made me begin to think about cultural differences. The thing I like best about this work is that it is a real opportunity to try and resurrect individuals from the monolith of history. I've worked on prehistoric and historical sites in the U.S. and in Europe, and like to teach, in the field, in museums, in the classroom, and through writing.
In my first book, Site Unseen, my protagonist Emma Fielding discovers that archaeologists are trained to ask the same questions that detectives ask: who, what, where, when, how, and why. When I started on these books, I realized that archaeology is also good training for writing because research, logic, and persistence are so important to both endeavors.
Naturally, that training worked with the archaeology mysteries--and it also helped with my first short story, "The Lords of Misrule," a historical mystery which appeared in the anthology, Sugarplums and Scandal. But how has it worked when I've tackled subjects as seemingly diverse as werewolves ("The Night Things Changed" in Wolfsbane and Mistletoe and "Swing Shift" in Crimes By Moonlight) and noir ("Femme Sole," in Boston Noir)? Easy: it's all about getting into someone else's shoes and walking around for a while. Preferably, getting into (fictional) trouble while you do it. Asking "what if?" and thinking about how culture and subcultures--in addition to personality--shape behavior.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 16, 2020
What a delightful find A Fugitive Truth is for an archaeologist wannabe and former archivist like me! The main character, Emma Fielding, is herself a historical archaeologist doing archival research a woman who owned a 18th century home that she is excavating and she is wildly excited to have access to her journal. As a good teacher, Emma muses about the value of seeming little things, like journals: "History tends to be about grand events or trends that are dissociated from the common person. Historical archaeology is about everyday things, it's finding out about people who didn't always have a voice or fair representation by those who kept the public records, its about filling in the blanks." As Emma delves further into the journal's details she discovers a secret code and a trial for murder. What could be more exciting? Oh, there are is a real murder mystery, too.
January 22, 2023
solid Mystery
I enjoyed the intellectual tone of the book. The advanced vocabulary is unexpected in a cozy mystery. I picked up the book because of the Hallmark movie series. This Emma Fielding is very different than theirs. The book was a bit “darker” than I expected, but I will pick up another in the series!
I enjoyed the intellectual tone of the book. The advanced vocabulary is unexpected in a cozy mystery. I picked up the book because of the Hallmark movie series. This Emma Fielding is very different than theirs. The book was a bit “darker” than I expected, but I will pick up another in the series!
March 12, 2024
Enjoying this mystery series about an archaeologist. The mysteries are good, the settings are interesting, the characters are relatable, and, the author manages to make the details of archaeology accurate without being boring. She does seem to have Jessica Fletcher syndrome though. Not only do dead bodies show up wherever she goes, but she's always right in the crosshairs of the murderer.
July 16, 2017
Emma Felding an archeologist doing a special study of a dairy ...people are being killed...she trys to figure it out...not a great plot...drags on too long....no more of these for me!
October 10, 2017
Best Emma Fielding Mystery book yet!
November 15, 2018
While this author's writing style can be a bit plodding, I like the series.
September 14, 2019
Not much archaeology but books figure prominently in this mystery. Any book lover can sympathize with the baddie in this one.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
November 21, 2020
This is the most compelling book in the series so far. I didn't want to put it down!
July 24, 2025
Just okay.
April 30, 2021
I loved the first three books in this series, but there are so many books I want to read that I kept forgetting to pick up the next book in the series.
I seriously need to step up and finish this series though as this book was yet another awesome read.
Emma is a fun character. She's serious about her work, but also curious to the point it puts her into harm's way. I rooted for her to both uncover the secrets of the diary she's researching and to find the killer who is stalking her and others.
I loved how this murder mystery has parallels with Emma's research, creating more mystery and suspense. I was invested and intrigued and couldn't put this book down. I feared for the life of some of the characters and hoped my favorites would survive.
All in all a great read, and I'll have to get hold of Sugarplums and Scandal which contains book 4.5 in this series, so I can dive into book 5 afterward.
I seriously need to step up and finish this series though as this book was yet another awesome read.
Emma is a fun character. She's serious about her work, but also curious to the point it puts her into harm's way. I rooted for her to both uncover the secrets of the diary she's researching and to find the killer who is stalking her and others.
I loved how this murder mystery has parallels with Emma's research, creating more mystery and suspense. I was invested and intrigued and couldn't put this book down. I feared for the life of some of the characters and hoped my favorites would survive.
All in all a great read, and I'll have to get hold of Sugarplums and Scandal which contains book 4.5 in this series, so I can dive into book 5 afterward.
January 15, 2008
I am currently reading A Fugitive Truth by Dana Cameron.
A Fugitive Truth
Dana Cameron
Mystery
336 pages
The past's blood stains the present
The opportunity of a lifetime awaits archaeologist Emma Fielding in the Berkshire foothills of Western Massachusetts: the chance to study the eighteenth-century diary of Margaret Chandler, the accused witch and murderess whose home Emma excavated only months before. However, the three other Shrewsbury Foundation fellows she must share the premises with are a disturbingly odd bunch, and before too long one of them is dead.
But Emma can find no solace in the bleak beauty of the surrounding wilderness, for there are dark secrets encoded in Madam Chandler's writings, and shocking parallels between an ancient slaying and the strange, brutal demise of her colleague. When the killer strikes again, Emma realizes her own life is at stake. And suddenly there is no choice left: she is driven to investigate bloody crimes past and present -- before her own death becomes a footnote in a chilling, three-centuries-old story.
A Fugitive Truth
Dana Cameron
Mystery
336 pages
The past's blood stains the present
The opportunity of a lifetime awaits archaeologist Emma Fielding in the Berkshire foothills of Western Massachusetts: the chance to study the eighteenth-century diary of Margaret Chandler, the accused witch and murderess whose home Emma excavated only months before. However, the three other Shrewsbury Foundation fellows she must share the premises with are a disturbingly odd bunch, and before too long one of them is dead.
But Emma can find no solace in the bleak beauty of the surrounding wilderness, for there are dark secrets encoded in Madam Chandler's writings, and shocking parallels between an ancient slaying and the strange, brutal demise of her colleague. When the killer strikes again, Emma realizes her own life is at stake. And suddenly there is no choice left: she is driven to investigate bloody crimes past and present -- before her own death becomes a footnote in a chilling, three-centuries-old story.
August 2, 2013
A fugitive truth is het 4e boek in een serie over Emma Fielding, een archeologe die op de een of andere manier steeds weer in een moordzaak terecht komt.
In dit boek geen opgravingen maar een verblijf in een instituut met allerlei "Americana", een verzameling van manuscripten, brieven, boeken en artefacten over de (nog steeds redelijk beperkte) Amerikaanse geschiedenis.
Het historische aspect interesseert me niet zo heel erg omdat ik gewoon niet zo heel erg veel feeling heb met Amerikaanse plattelandsvrouwen en echtgenotes van (voor mij) onbekende rechters in de mid-west.
De beschrijvingen van een aantal van de redelijk bizarre figuren die rondlopen in het instituut vond ik wel vermakelijk. Wel jammer dat sommige personen niet wat meer uitgewerkt zijn en verhaallijnen soms doodlopen.
In dit boek geen opgravingen maar een verblijf in een instituut met allerlei "Americana", een verzameling van manuscripten, brieven, boeken en artefacten over de (nog steeds redelijk beperkte) Amerikaanse geschiedenis.
Het historische aspect interesseert me niet zo heel erg omdat ik gewoon niet zo heel erg veel feeling heb met Amerikaanse plattelandsvrouwen en echtgenotes van (voor mij) onbekende rechters in de mid-west.
De beschrijvingen van een aantal van de redelijk bizarre figuren die rondlopen in het instituut vond ik wel vermakelijk. Wel jammer dat sommige personen niet wat meer uitgewerkt zijn en verhaallijnen soms doodlopen.
July 30, 2009
If I had known that this book wasn't truly focused on an archaeological dig, I probably would have avoided it and that would have been unfortunate. What it did focus on was the inner workings of a rare books and documents library. As a library student that is very intriguing to me. The characters deal with their attitudes toward books and libraries. There are some wonderful quoteable passages on the topic.
Yes, it is a mystery, but that wasn't the reason why I read it. The theme, the milieu and the honesty of the characterization are all strengths of this book.
Yes, it is a mystery, but that wasn't the reason why I read it. The theme, the milieu and the honesty of the characterization are all strengths of this book.
July 2, 2013
The best mysteries are those in which the answer seems obvious – but only at the end of the book. A Fugitive Truth fits in that category. But a mystery novel has to be more than just a clever puzzle, and this one is. The characters ring true, right down to Emma Fielding’s intense reaction to the denouement. And the writing is strong, marked by some very nice turns of phrase. For example: “I wrestled briefly with a small pang of guilt, then decided it was below the legal size limit and threw it back” Well done!
January 2, 2017
I started reading this series in 2012 and finished Book 1 through 3 and the others (Book 4 through 6) have been on my to-be-read list forever. I was glad to get back to this series as I have missed these characters. Dana Cameron is a great story-teller and does not disappoint. The plots are believable and keep the pages turning until the end. I now look forward to reading the last 2 books and I highly recommend this series to those who love great mysteries that involve archaeology.
April 6, 2016
While Emma is doing research on a project, two of her colleagues are killed, and she helps the detective solve the mystery of who the killer is (Unlikely that would happen.) Full of quirky characters. We don't find out why the security guards act the way they did though. I haven't read any of the other Emma Fielding books.
January 25, 2008
Boring, contrived, and lacking any uniqueness. The main character was also irritatingly full of herself.
I will say I'm very picky about mysteries, and this one didn't live up. For fun, quirky mysteries I much prefer Rita Mae Brown or Diane Mott Davidson.
I will say I'm very picky about mysteries, and this one didn't live up. For fun, quirky mysteries I much prefer Rita Mae Brown or Diane Mott Davidson.
April 21, 2009
Ugh. What is the deal with so many mystery writers these days? If I don't know what a main character looks like within the first 20 pages, I am not going to read. We need to "see" characters and have them take shape. Poor writing...
September 4, 2009
The best of the four Emma Fielding Mysteries so far but I still didn't love them and most likely won't get the rest. A bit slow in the beginning and it doesn't pick up till half way through the book.
January 13, 2015
I had started this book a couple of years ago and never finished it. Not sure why because I really enjoyed it this time around. Have read 5 books in the Emma Fielding series and found them quite enjoyable.
September 1, 2008
As usual, very good...light reading, good mystery
October 13, 2015
Pleasant who-done-it with a very likable protagonist
Read
February 13, 20104 of 6
February 26, 2015
Interesting characters, plot and sub-plots.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews