Killer Kern

by Phyllis Wachob

“Killer Kern Strikes Again” read the headlines in the Bakersfield morning paper. Vermilion Blew, in sorrow and disbelief, reads of the late spring icy waters that have claimed three new victims. And exposed a decades old body in the riverbank. Could this be her long missing fiancé, Frankie Monroe, who had left the day before the wedding, 38 years ago? Before Very can ask any questions, she is plunged into an investigation foisted on her by her PI partner. One of the victims is deemed a suicide, but the family refuses to believe this conclusion. Then, Very finds herself deep in neighborhoods she’d rather avoid, questioning the family of the other two victims. Is something askew with the story of the teenage girl and her older male cousin who tried to rescue her? Did they see the suicidal woman at Hart Park moments before she killed herself? Can Very extricate herself from these layers of lies and survive to tell the truth?

This is the second of the Kern Kapers Mysteries, featuring Vermilion Blew, a retired school librarian and English teacher. In the first mystery, Body in the Orchard, Very faces the possibility that instead of being abandoned at the altar, her fiance was murdered. In this second mystery, she again must grapple with the possibility that Frankie Monroe is no longer among the living. She has also been sucked into helping a local private investigator and now is asked to help with a new case.

250 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 16, 2021

About the author

Phyllis Wachob has been a fan of mysteries since her childhood and an English teacher for over 30 years. While teaching and living in many countries around the world, including Japan, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, Egypt and Turkey, she has visited over 75 countries. Inspired by her own and others' adventures as English teachers, she has chronicled her travels in a series of four mysteries, called the Teachers Abroad Mysteries, set in exotic places and interesting times. She still teaches English in Bakersfield, California, where she now resides. Her latest series, Kern Kapers Mysteries, is set in her hometown.

Reviews

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I REALLY liked this lulu of a novel and I'm not just saying that because I know the author. This well-paced story captivated me, and I had trouble putting it down. Even though it is the second book in the series, it reads well as a stand-alone. I'm glad I did read "The Body in the Orchard" first, however, because it helped to know the characters. I found it easy to relate to Very as a "person of certain years," and all the nagging thoughts that come with that certain age. Being a Bakersfieldian also helped me connect to Very as I traveled with her through the streets of Bakersfield. Every description was so spot on, right down to Dewar’s ice cream counter and candy chews, that I became absorbed as if living in a real-life story. And speaking of the Kern River, which does have a reputation for killing, Ms. Wachob wrapped up loose ends expertly after an enthralling climatic scene. Can't wait for the next book!

[Julie Bonderov · Rating 5 out of 5]

All connected by a capricious river

The past, the present, the old and young, and different cultures are all connected by the turbulent Kern River. As a Bakersfieldian, it is fun encountering local landmarks in the course of this mystery. The author uses detailed description to help the readers feel like they are really there. The story is resolved well by the end of the book, yet leaves hints of further developments. I will look forward to the next Kern Kaper!

[Carla Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phyllis takes her home town and utilizes its major features to create a world you can believe in. Her characters interact with each other in a caring fashion, with her character Very a bit of a curmudgeon. Enjoyable afternoon read.