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Crazy Red Moon
Big things were happening in 1957. The Cold War ratcheted tensions higher. The Russians launched the Space Age. Elvis bought Graceland.
For reporter Roly Allenson, it was the year her life changed. Forced to drop out of college, she struggles to find her place in a topsy-turvy world, starting with a weekly newspaper job in her hometown, a place as down-home as meatloaf and field peas, and just as dull.
What she actually finds is a dead body. In a cemetery. But in someone else’s grave.
Unraveling the mystery of the extra man in the cemetery plot leads Roly to realize her sleepy Southern town may be a lot more complicated beneath its smooth, nothing-ever-happens-here surface.
And maybe more dangerous.? After all, that dead man didn’t bury himself.
For reporter Roly Allenson, it was the year her life changed. Forced to drop out of college, she struggles to find her place in a topsy-turvy world, starting with a weekly newspaper job in her hometown, a place as down-home as meatloaf and field peas, and just as dull.
What she actually finds is a dead body. In a cemetery. But in someone else’s grave.
Unraveling the mystery of the extra man in the cemetery plot leads Roly to realize her sleepy Southern town may be a lot more complicated beneath its smooth, nothing-ever-happens-here surface.
And maybe more dangerous.? After all, that dead man didn’t bury himself.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2021
6 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 20, 2022
Disclosure: the author is a family member.
This is a fun cozy mystery set in small town Alabama in the 1950s. Soon after taking a job at the local newspaper to make ends meet, Roly stumbles on a new body in an cemetery. When the launch of Sputnik soon after distracts the locals from the murder, Roly takes it upon herself to investigate herself under the guise of writing an article about the victim. But the town has secrets, and Roly may be risking more than her job by shining a light into the darkness.
This is not my genre, but I found Crazy Red Moon to be a nice breezy read. Seeing the heroine trying to juggle her investigation with her other responsibilities at her job was a nice change of pace from the dogged detective I generally think about for mysteries. Looking forward to seeing what is next from the author :)
This is a fun cozy mystery set in small town Alabama in the 1950s. Soon after taking a job at the local newspaper to make ends meet, Roly stumbles on a new body in an cemetery. When the launch of Sputnik soon after distracts the locals from the murder, Roly takes it upon herself to investigate herself under the guise of writing an article about the victim. But the town has secrets, and Roly may be risking more than her job by shining a light into the darkness.
This is not my genre, but I found Crazy Red Moon to be a nice breezy read. Seeing the heroine trying to juggle her investigation with her other responsibilities at her job was a nice change of pace from the dogged detective I generally think about for mysteries. Looking forward to seeing what is next from the author :)
December 30, 2021
I hope this is going to be a series, because I can't wait to see what young Roly Allenson, Girl Reporter, gets up to next. I hope Miss Birdie and the other members of charming, fictional Callasoonee County are along for the ride.
I have a soft spot for anything set in the 50's, and this book delivers, right down to the Sputnik party at the country club.
Best of all, Lucy Merrill's story deftly walks that invisible line between sweet and dangerous, mysterious and wholesome.
The question is: Who will play Roly in the movie?
I have a soft spot for anything set in the 50's, and this book delivers, right down to the Sputnik party at the country club.
Best of all, Lucy Merrill's story deftly walks that invisible line between sweet and dangerous, mysterious and wholesome.
The question is: Who will play Roly in the movie?
February 10, 2022
A fun read. Who is the killer? Fun watching young Roly as she is getting her footing as a small town reporter.
Hope to see more from this writer.
Words added to my vocabulary thanks to Lucy Merrill:
Cadge - ask for or obtain
Redoubt - a temporary or supplementary fortification
Oonch - to push, generally with the shoulder
Natter - talk casually, especially about unimportant matters; chatter.
Hope to see more from this writer.
Words added to my vocabulary thanks to Lucy Merrill:
Cadge - ask for or obtain
Redoubt - a temporary or supplementary fortification
Oonch - to push, generally with the shoulder
Natter - talk casually, especially about unimportant matters; chatter.
March 22, 2022
It’s difficult for me to give any book one star but this book was just at that level for me. It might be the most boring book I’ve read in a long time. I’m not sure how I managed to get through it. The only positive thing was possibly the characters and even that is iffy.
It’s definitely a whodunnit book but nothing that impressed me.
It’s definitely a whodunnit book but nothing that impressed me.
January 7, 2022
A Wonderful Mystery Full of Twists and Turns
In the tradition of Nancy Drew, Crazy Red Moon is an adult mystery full of questions and well developed characters. It is hard to put this book down as each chapter leads smoothly into the next. The mystery is full of drama but not so explicitly to offend. I highly recommend this easy to read book and hope the author will continue sharing her stories with us.
In the tradition of Nancy Drew, Crazy Red Moon is an adult mystery full of questions and well developed characters. It is hard to put this book down as each chapter leads smoothly into the next. The mystery is full of drama but not so explicitly to offend. I highly recommend this easy to read book and hope the author will continue sharing her stories with us.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews