A Life for a Life

Appalachian Mountain Mysteries #1

by Lynda McDaniel

Laurel Falls, NC 1985 The past is the past, right? Not for Della Kincaid. After decades as a crime reporter in Washington, DC, Della thinks she's settling in a quiet, idyllic town in the NC mountains ... but a walk in the wilderness—and what she finds—change everything.

When the sheriff takes the easy way out and declares the death a suicide, Della teams up with her new friends and neighbors to get at the truth. As they travel through Western North Carolina, they encounter a fascinating cast of characters, including the best one of all—the lush natural setting of the mountains.

Will they find the killer before they become the next victims?

Can Della make peace with her past?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Amazon, Ebooks, Mystery Thriller, Cozy

Kindle Edition

First published August 25, 2016

About the author

Eight suspenseful mysteries. Two beloved characters. Scores of twists and turns. Take an Appalachian adventure on the path to justice.

I draw inspiration for my Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series from my years living on a farm in the mountains of North Carolina. I made mistakes by the wheelbarrow-load, but I wouldn’t take anything for the experience. I met fascinating people who taught me so much, and you’ll get to meet them as this series follows the life of Abit Bradshaw from age 15 to 47 (and counting!), as he and his best friend, Della Kincaid, seek justice for those who need their help.

Hard to believe, but while on the farm near a town of only 200, I got my start as a writer. It launched a career that includes more than 1200 magazine articles, 15 nonfiction books, and my mystery series.

"Reminds me of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’ You are a treasure of a writer." ~J. M. Grayson

My mystery series is perfect for fans of Jacqueline Winspear, Sue Grafton, and Cheryl Bradshaw (no relation to Abit that we know of!). Learn more and read excerpts of all eight novels in the series online at LyndaMcDanielBooks.

What's next? I'm working on the ninth book in the series that takes Abit into the big city for a life-threatening investigation.

​I love hearing from my readers, so don't be a stranger. I hope you'll let me know your thoughts and questions. I'll get back to you ASAP.​

And I hope you'll follow me on BookBub to keep up with all the series' latest developments and reviews: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lynda...

Thanks and best wishes,
Lynda

Reviews

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although directly labeled as a mystery, for me the appeal of this book are the characters and ease of writing. I enjoyed Della’s positive attitude and perseverance and Abit’s humble honesty. Along with Della’s dog Jake, they make quite a team!

Even if the story is a bit predictable, it’s a nice wholesome (outside the murder, of course!), quick read that showcases the joy of a small mountain community in the mid-80s. As a fellow southerner, I can relate to the neighbors who become family and how small acts of kindness can alter any life. I will definitely read more in this series!

[Joleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reading my Appalachian books I came across this and tucked right in. A mystery? Yes!

Virginia...the next state over from here? Yes!

Expletives, foul language, sexual content. Nope.

Not for me.

[Laura Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s nothing I love more in a mystery than a mixed bag of characters. They need to read as genuine, make mistakes, be flawed, and I don’t necessarily need to like them. They ned to evoke an emotional response from me.

I also need the author to hide bread crumbs throughout her tale, keeping me busy sniffing them out, and leading me down blind alleys.

I got all of that and then some. Just loved this book. The setting was fascinating. And the descriptions of the area were quite visual. I also drew from movies and shows I watch that were set in the Appalachian Mountains to get an even clearer picture.

The characters were many. I especially liked the star protagonist, Della Kincaid. She used to be a reporter in Washington, D.C. and now owns a small grocery store.She isn’t afraid to stick her nose into some dark places. She’s tough, smart, resourceful, and relentless, yet still has some vulnerabilities.

A close second favorite is Abit, a teenage Appalachian boy. You’ll get his point of view in the story and I bet you come to adore his determination and spirit as much as I did.

The author’s research into the area and it’s denizens shows in her telling. I felt like I’d stepped into a different place, a different way of life. Some of it not so pleasant.

Hence a murder mystery with a large suspect list and lots of secrets to peel back.

This is solid piece of work and I had a terrific time trying to figure out the villain. It wasn’t easy. In fact, the author had to tell me. I guess I missed some of those bread crumbs.

And the ending was stupendous. I couldn’t have asked for more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. My review is freely given.

[Kathleen Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reporter, Della Kincaid, has decided to move from Washington, D.C to Laurel Falls, N.C for a simpler life. While walking in the woods she is surprised when a man runs past her saying that "there was a body". Della and her dog do come across a body of a young woman, a supposed suicide. Della does not believe this, in spite of the suicide note.

Della enlists the help of numerous people in the community and Washington as it becomes apparent that the sheriff won't do anything to investigate the death. He claims it is suicide and that is that.

Della moved to Laurel Falls and bought a store and at first the people in the community are a bit reluctant. Most small communities are suspicious of "outsiders". The previous owner of the store, has a son, Abit. Abit is considered "not quite right". He appears to have some learning disabilities. He helps Della around the store and he becomes involved with helping Della find out who "murdered" the young woman.

The story is told in alternating chapters by Della and Abit. We learn about each of these characters that are so pivotal to the story. Della has an ex husband, who I believe she still has feelings for but he was unfaithful to her and she has a hard time believing him when he says he has changed. Abit's father is one of those down south old fashioned curmudgeon. He has very rough exterior but I believe deep down he really cares about his son.

I really enjoyed this story, a fast read with believable characters plus a suspenseful murder mystery makes this a book well worth the read. I liked how both Della and Abit's characters got stronger as the story moved on. Nicely done!

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most satisfying mystery I have read in ages. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The characters are the strongest aspect of this novel and they are delightful. Della Kinkaid bought a small grocery store in rural Applachia, making a new life for herself. She'd been a high profile reporter in Washington, D.C. but had had enough of the pressure and danger. When the body of a young woman is found in the woods, Della revives her reporter instincts and will not let the murder go unsolved.

My favorite character by far, and I am sure by design, is Abit. He's a fifteen year old special needs (although they don't call it that in Appalachia) young man. Son of the previous store owners, he has his chair at the front of the store. He's a sweet fellow and Della treasures him dearly.

As good as the characters are, the construction of the novel is great too. The narrative alternates between Della and Abit, between the voice of an educated reporter and that of a country guy who hasn't made it beyond fifth grade. That way of developing the story went exceptionally well.

I highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy well crafted characters and a captivating plot. There is plenty of local color and great descriptions. I could just picture some of those Appalachian men and women. The mystery is a good one too. Thank goodness for Della as the incompetent sheriff would have never solved the case. And keep the tissues handy as the end of the novel will tug at your heart. This is the first novel I've read by McDaniel and I'll be looking for more.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Ciclochick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Much as I loved the mystery side of it, what I particularly loved about it was the special relationship between the two main characters.

There are two narrators, recounting an event from some twenty years previously. One is Della, an ex reporter who decides to give up the pressure of her Washington job and settles for country life in the Appalachian countryside. The other is Abit. Unusual name? Yes. But I won't spoil it for you! Abit is a young teenager who is best described in modern terms as 'on the spectrum'. Della and Abit share a very special relationship: no, nothing salacious. Just special. Della sees qualities in Abit his parents overlook. Watching his development over the course of the book was just lovely.

The event that binds them is Della's discovery of a dead girl whilst walking her dog. The local police dismiss it as a suicide. But Della's investigative instincts as a journalist ignite. There's more to it. With the help of young Abit, friends and her ex husband, they aim to get to the bottom of the tragedy.

This has a solid plot cushioned by Abit and Della's friendship. Beautifully and perfectly executed and written.

I was a smidge disappointed to get to the end, further evidence of the author's skill. She manages to pull you right into the story, into the scenery and into Appalachian life to the point that you not only feel as if you're there, but actually really want to be.

[Mori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this book on book funnel and I am so glad I decided to give it a chance.

Lynda McDaniel's writing is simplistic, yet she has the ability to suck you into the story in a way that keeps you reading long after you should be in bed. I read this book in two sittings and when I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it constantly, I couldn't wait to dive back into the story.

I grew up in a small town, and still live in a small town. Laurel Falls reminds me so much of where I grew up. I loved the descriptions of the forests and trails surrounding the town. They were beautiful and realistic. It made me wish Laurel Falls was a really place.

I enjoyed both perspectives. Della and Abit are just so lovely, and wonderful. Their different perspectives were unique and even without the chapter headings you knew who's perspective you were reading from. All the surrounding characters really fit into the small town, and I am sure I've met all of these people in my day to day life.

I was intrigued by the murder mystery in this novel, however I felt that the ending wasn't as fleshed out as it could have been and was a little bit abrupt. I wish we could have spent more time seeing all of the different signs and clues that lead to exposing who was the one behind it. But other than that I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it is one of my new favorites. I will definitely be buying this series in print if I can find it!

[Sharon Grow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Della Kincaid and her dog Jake, find the body of young woman in the woods surrounding her home in Laurel Falls, North Carolina. The woman is unknown to the members of the small town and the sheriff is sure that the woman committed suicide. Della and her friends are not so sure. Della, who now owns the local store, was once a reporter in Washington D.C. and is determined to find out what happened to the woman, even asking for help from her ex-husband, Alex. Della befriends a young man with learning disabilities named Vester, but everyone calls him Abit. Abit works in her store to earn money and their friendship deepens as the story progresses. Although the chapters rotate between Della telling her story and Abit telling the story from his view point this does not make the story confusing, but enhances the actual information for the reader. For anyone who has ever lived in a small town environment, you will love the variety of characters in this low-key mystery which is as much about the mystery as it is the people in the town. I very much enjoyed this book, the story, the mystery and the characters. (by paytonpuppy)

[Kevin Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first of (so far) three books about an unlikely duo caught up in the local mysteries that pop up in a mountain hamlet in rural North Carolina, "A Life for a Life" introduces the fish-out-of-water investigator and her equally outsider sidekick, along with what will obviously be the recurring cast of colorful local yokels and flamboyant big-city contacts. The story gives us a sense of each of their characters, and the slightly awkward friendship that develops between the two protagonists. Along the way they force the closed-minded local sheriff to reconsider the apparent suicide of a young woman in the nearby woods, and stir up more hornets' nests than any two people ought to.

Della Kincaid is a former investigative reporter who leaves her Washington, DC, big-city life, and disgraced reporter ex-husband, behind, and buys the general store in a tiny hollow in the mountains of North Carolina, intending to live in quiet small-town retreat. She doesn't count on the begrudging attitudes of the local population toward change, and outsiders; she also doesn't expect the store to come with its own built-in Boo Radley, the teenage "Abit" who still lives next door with his family, the former proprietors of the store. Abit is an engaging and well-meaning kid with an unspecified learning disability; he got his name from his father, who would always tell people he was "a bit slow". Della struggles to settle on a more dignified name for Abit, who until then had not realized he needed one. Della tries to win the locals' acceptance, and their business, and makes friends with Abit, who, after his family simply stopped sending him to school, hangs around the store with nothing to do.

Soon after her arrival, Della comes across the body of a young woman in the woods. There is a suicide note in her purse. The sheriff writes it off as open-and-shut, but Della is not convinced. She uses her reportorial skills, and some of her former contacts, to probe into the case, despite being warned off by the sheriff. Along the way, she develops an increasingly respectful relationship with Abit, who finds pride in himself when she gives him a part-time job in the store, and shows unsuspected abilities when he contributes his own discoveries to the investigation. Not surprisingly, there is more to the story than first appears, and, not surprisingly, a lot of conflict to go through to bring it all to light. The end of the book points the way to a brighter future for both parties to this awkward partnership.

The story presentation is a little precious, perhaps unnecessarily so. It is framed as a retrospective from the point of view of Abit, who speaks in a short introductory chapter about his memories of the time 20 years before when he met Della and got involved in the murder investigation, both of them turning points in his life. The writing in that chapter is plain, but clear and grammatical; in comparison with later chapters, we see how much he has developed since the time setting of the story, and thus by implication how much good Della has done for him. The remaining chapters are all in the contemporary time of the murder and its investigation. There is no concluding chapter in the later time-frame to close the bookending started by the introductory retrospective, which gives that opening chapter an even more awkward feeling.

Each substantive chapter is told in the voice either of Della or Abit, usually alternating chapters; Abit's chapters, in mountain dialect, underscore his lack of education and worldliness, while Della's carry hints of her sophisticated tastes and big-city ways. The alternating voices sometimes seem like a somewhat forced device, as does Abit's slightly unconvincing struggle to understand and communicate, which often seems merely as if a character of normal intellect were speaking in a crude stage dialect. Though much of the charm of the book is found in Della's growing appreciation of what Abit has to offer, and Abit's blossoming under her encouragement, it can seem condescending, because Abit's "slowness" is not sold very convincingly. As Abit himself perceives, his real handicap is not that he can't participate but that people refuse to let him.

Many of the supporting characters seem rather like Central Casting knockoffs of standard types: the belligerent southern sheriff, the sniffy religious woman, the resentful hillbilly, etc. The book does not go so far as self-parody; the characters are interesting and human, but perhaps a bit too familiar.

The actual mystery seems plausible, but undersold. The crime turns out to be tawdry and sad, and the final revelation, after many convoluted chapters of devoted sleuthing and infuriating setbacks, comes too fast and easy. More-even pacing would have helped, and the louche' ex machina character of the ex-husband is both unnecessary and annoying (it's easy to see why she left him; it's not easy to see why she puts up with him anymore).

All in all, though, it is an engaging story with interesting and charming characters. It reads as a kind of cozy freelance-investigator procedural - nice middle-aged ladies running around asking questions, with the occasional run-in with the law, armed militias, callous frauds, angry rednecks, rapscallion former convicts, and LexisNexis thrown in. Though I first questioned some of the story mechanics, as noted above, I eventually found myself drawn into the story and wanting to see it through. After finishing it, I look forward to reading the next volumes in the series.

[Hallee · Rating 1 out of 5]

no hate but this book was just not enjoyable to read and I was struggling to get through it. the story seemed kind of all over the place, i felt like I was just being strung along. and then to have the story of the murder just casually talked about by the Alex at the end was a womp womp for me. The whole story was a bunch of seemingly unrelated events, then all of a sudden the murder is solved but is just told by the one character who btw was so random.

[Bryton McGee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I see why this was free on my nook app :(

[Lachlan Ainsworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cozy story, would have been 4 stars but found the end a little predictable and cheesy

[Patricia Romero · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this more as I got into the story. I do hope we see more of the charactrs. The only thing that irked me was Alex. You divorced him for a reason and I do not understand that dynamic.

[Skjam! · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a download of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway to facilitate writing this review. No other compensation was requested or offered.

There’s big doings down to Coburn’s Country Store. The new owner, Della Kincaid, used to be a big-city reporter in Washington, D.C. She’s fixed the place up nice, settling into life in this rural North Carolina community, and taken a sisterly interest in Abit, the learning-challenged boy who lives next door. She enjoys walks in the mountain forest with her dog Jake–or at least she did until she found a dead woman’s body.

No one knows who the woman is or how she got there, or who the man Della saw running from the scene is, but the sheriff is quick to rule the case a suicide. Della isn’t convinced, and starts snooping with the aid and/or obstruction of her quirky neighbors.

This is the first in a series of “Appalachian Mountain Mysteries” set in the 1980s, and featuring characters loosely based on the people the author met when she lived in North Carolina. (A sequel was published last month.)

Most of the chapters are narrated by Della, but there are also chapters from the viewpoint of Abit (birth name Vester), a teenager who has a learning disability his family isn’t fully understanding of. He’s large for his age, and sometimes his words come out wrong, so his father took him out of school. As a result, Abit spends most of his time hanging out on the porch of Coburn’s, observing. This habit comes in handy when there’s a murder to solve! (He also writes with a bit of dialect.)

The sheriff is intellectually lazy and impatient, so jumps to conclusions, and has a grudge against Della (his family owns a competing store) so doesn’t listen to any of her theories or evidence. In fairness, we later learn that the townsfolk have not bothered telling the sheriff important details about the case because they don’t like him. There’s a more sympathetic law enforcement officer, but he doesn’t have jurisdiction, and then becomes a suspect when certain information about his past surfaces.

Another important character is Della’s ex-husband Alex, also a reporter, but disgraced due to apparent plagarism and his drinking problem. He helps with the investigation, not least because he has access to the Lexis-Nexis database, big back in the 1980s.

The resolution to the case is mostly offstage, though savvy readers should be able to spot the culprit earlier.

Like a fair number of “cozy” mysteries, the book spends a lot of time detailing the delicious meals the characters are enjoying. I was a bit disappointed that there were no recipes in the back.

The characters are likable enough, but the book never really gripped me. Recommended to cozy mystery fans interested in the Appalachians atmosphere.

[Joey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Life for a Life: Lynda McDaniel

Stereotyping people is wrong and even misdiagnosing a student or older person because they appear to you on the surface to be mentally challenged or slow is not always the case. When the book opens we meet ABT a young man who befriended the other voice heard throughout this novel. Her name is Della and she too has a difficult past as this young man finds himself sitting outside of her store everyday a murder is committed in the woods not far away as Della and her dog Jake take some time to chill out and relax as she finds the body of a young girl and from this point on their two lives not only intertwine but will change forever. What happens when a murder, a tragedy turns into something positive for two mismatched people? Living in a small town everyone gossips and knows practically everything about everyone else. This town is no different. When Della alerts the sheriff about the death of someone named “L” he dismisses her and claims it appears to be a suicide based on a note that she found on the victim. But, something does not ring true and Della begin a former reporter and very inquisitive won’t give up until she finds out who this young girl was and allows her the dignity of being properly laid to rest. A Life for A Life is a heartwarming story of how a serious tragedy gave two people a new start in life. With a sheriff named Bower who discounts much of what he hears about most things she turns to ABIT or Vester Jr. his real name to help her decipher the clues, find clues and even learn that he too has a strong value in life as we learn in the prologue when they decide to collaborate and write a book about that spring day.

ABIT’s father is abusive and cruel and although at times he shakes off the insults and physical abuse he seems to muddle through. Thinking he is worth not much and no longer allowed to do the one thing that matters to him, attend school, he trudges along each day sitting outside the Coburn story that his father once owned and hopes to see Della, get into some conversation and feel wanted. But, things take an unusual turn because Della is consumed with the murder and with the help of her friend Cleva who alleviates her stress when things get hard; they aim to learn the harsh truth about many of the people and a killer that just might be hiding in plain sight.

Della and Abit formed an alliance and since she needed help in her store she asked him to stock, watch the store and even created a Rolling Country Store that he and a man named Duane would run together. Since he was not old enough to drive they traveled together bringing food and other supplies to people that needed them. Laurel Falls, N.C. is the setting and the dialogue at times represents it so that readers get a flavor of the community and the people. Della was married to a man named Alex and the author shares their past together and when he shows up things starts to drastically change.

Finding out the name of the murder victim and meeting her family was the start of honing in on why she might have been killed. But, learning about an organization named Green Treatise whose members hated the government, did not want to pay taxes and resented anything about the government unleashed a whole group of suspects and some surprised Della and Alex when they decided to attend one of their meetings. Someone was calling Della threatening her to back off and to make sure she got the message they torched her store. With the help of ABIT things got under control since his powers of observation helped save the day. But, this fight was not over and a funeral for the dead girl was planned and the suspects were all present but who chose to gain from her death?

Someone received a phone call to come to that clearing and said he was needed there. He thought that it was some kind of joke or prank by the Green Treatise. Maybe an initiation, of some guys from the government who were trying to “broker a deal.” This is the man that Della saw at the sight in the clearing where the girl was killed. He touched her to see if she was alive but she was dead cold. As he stated if the sheriff bothered to look into things he would find his fingerprints at the scene but then something changes and someone is arrested for the murder but is he guilty. Working for the forest service and having feelings for Della, Gregg becomes a suspect and Della and Abit along with Alex went on a crusade to prove him innocent. This is a story told from two different voices and two different perspectives yet in the end they intertwine and blend together. Della not accepted by everyone in Laurel Falls with a somewhat checkered past and wanting to start over again yet at times floundering. Wondering why Alex was willing to help her solve the murder yet at times doubts and concerns popped into her mind. Abit has been labeled at mentally slow or challenged but as you get to know him and understand him better you will realize that he has an innate ability to sense situations, care for people and just wants his father to finally be proud of him but he feels he will amount to nothing hence living down to his own expectations by sitting outside Della’s store in his own chair, an nobody better take it, and laments, listens to gossip and hopes to spend time with Della.

A story told in two voices and yet there a many more that are heard as Della and Alex start to bond yet one simple misunderstanding might alter it all. While Della found a suicide note at the crime scene, Cassie who is Gregg’s assistant found another one and there lies where the mystery takes on a new tone. As Della looks at both notes she realizes that something is off. Enlisting the help of a former forger named Nigel who now works for the Treasury Department with his help she uncovers a major clue that forces Bower to realize that this might not be a suicide and that someone other than Gregg might have committed the murder but will he follow up on it or is there something else we don’t know? Evidence found in Gregg’s truck was it planted? Who wanted everyone to think he was guilty? Why didn’t the sheriff want to look further? With the Rollin Store doing well and Abit and Duane working together Della determined to find the real killer. When Alex disappears for a while Della becomes suspicious but when he returns with Abit you won’t believe what you see and how Abit’s transformation changes it all. Labeled, thought to be slow as the novel progresses you learn how much he yearns to go back to school, make himself and his father proud of him and why doing this job and working for Della has changed his life and hers too. With the killer on the lose they have to sort it out before Just who was scamming and stealing for older people? Who was pretending to house people in need but in reality taking what they owned and using it for herself to profit feeding them oatmeal and pretending to give them a clean and safe place to live?
Just who wanted Lucy dead and why and was coming after Della? Warnings not heeded and more lives on the line will they stop this person or will another body be found? An ending that will create some surprises and twists and a former Washington, D.C. reporter named Della who had investigative reporting in her blood and just might prove to be more than just the owner of a the Coburn Store and Rollin Store but maybe Ellicott City’s new sleuth. Characters whose voices are definitely defined and a plot that keeps readers wondering until the very end. A LIFE FOR A LIFE: How far will you go to save yours? What happens in a small town when a murder saves not only life but opens new doors for even more?
Fran Lewis: Just reviews/MJ magazine

[Escape Into Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very rarely read books that are straight mysteries. The mysteries that I read have thriller and/or psychological elements in them. To be honest, I was getting a tad bored reading them. So when I got the invite to review A Life for a Life and read the synopsis, I decided that I needed a change. I am glad that I decided to read this book. It was a well-written mystery that kept me guessing to the end.

The plotline for A Life for a Life was very simple. Della, a former reporter now running a country store, stumbles across the body of a young girl. Everything points to suicide but Della thinks that there is more to the story. So she starts doing what she does best, investigating. With her sidekicks, Abit and Jake, Della digs into the case. What she discovers will change the lives of many people in her small town.

I liked Della. I liked how she dug into Lucy’s case and refused to let it go. She had so much thrown at her during the course of the book. She had opposition from the sheriff. Her dog was kidnapped (well, dognapped). Her store was vandalized and then set on fire. If it was any other person, they would have dropped the case. But not Della, it made her even more determined to find out why Lucy was killed.

Abit was one of the sweetest characters that I have read to date. He had a way of looking at the bright side of things that made me smile. He also had thick skin. He had to. I mean, look at his nickname, Abit. His father gave it to him while describing him as “a bit slow“. Even though he was slow, he had an amazing insight into the people in his town.

I thought that the mystery angle of the book was well written. I usually figure out who the murderer is by the middle of the book. Or at least the motive. Both were kept under wraps and not revealed until the end of the book. The red herrings that the author threw out were wonderful too. I did think that the murderer was the person that was arrested.

What I liked the most about this book was the small town feel that I got from it. I know, getting a small town feel from a book. I’m nuts. But, I do. The other thing is that I live in Western North Carolina. I live in the Foothills. Everything that was written in this book could have been where I live.

The end of A Life for a Life was excellent. Like I mentioned above, the author did a fantastic job of keeping the murderer and the motive under wraps. She also did a fantastic job of wrapping up the smaller storylines and merging them with the main one. There were no loose ends.

[Rita Kroon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Della Kinkaid escapes to the rural mountains of NC in order to flee the hassles as a reporter in D.C. It didn't work. She discovers the body of a young woman deep in the woods, and Della gets embroiled in the investigation. The lazy sheriff says suicide, Kinkaid says murder. Without her usual resources for chasing down the truth, Kinkaid turns to an offbeat cast of characters - an elderly friend Cleva, her ex-husband Alex, and next-door neighbor, Abit, a challenged teenage boy who's spent his entire 16 years plagued by small-town bullies and family lies. Abit got his name from people who would describe him as "a bit" slow. Dellla and Abit, an unlikely duo, team up in search of answers to the alleged murder and in the process, discover their own dreams and desires for a new life. Abit perceives his real handicap is not that he can't participate, but that people refuse to let him. Della was the exception.

Author Lynda McDaniel sets this character-driven novel in the Appalachian Mountains of NC in the mid 1980's. She braids the story together of Della and Abit by devoting alternating chapters as seen from the perspectives of the two protagonists. The characters are three-dimensional as each struggles in their own way, with complex relationships, forgiveness, acceptance and their own character vulnerabilities.

Della, Abit, Cleva, and Alex all feel the frustration of trying to get the local sheriff to look beyond his conclusion that the death was suicide, and to consider the very real possibility that it was murder.

A Life for a Life is an enjoyable read. However, it does lack a bit of intrigue in solving the murder mystery. McDaniel is a good author, but her sporadic use of profanity and her irreverence in using God's name in vain detract from her otherwise excellent writing skills for many readers.

I give A Life for a Life by Lynda McDaniel a 4-star rating.

Review submitted by Rita Kroon, Author of Kiss Your Mommy Goodbye and Letters from the Past

[Julie Failla Earhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this first book in the Appalachian Mountain mystery series, readers are introduced to Della Kincaid and Abit.

Della has left Washington, D.C., looking for a new start. She spotted a for sale sign on a boarded up store as she took the long way back to D.C. after a week’s vacation in the Black Mountains. A former investigative reporter and newly divorced, Della was looking for a quiet, more predictable life.

At first, the local townspeople weren’t too keen on the new arrival, with the exception of Abit, a fifteen-year-old boy with an unspecified mental deficiency. His dad had taken him out of school because he was “a bit slow.” Now he just hangs around the house.

But when Della reopens the small grocery store, Abit begins to hang around, sitting in a rickety chair on the porch. Slowly, Della and Abit become friends. Della begins to offer him odd jobs around the store.

One afternoon, Della and her dog, Jake, go on a picnic where they discover a dead girl. Enter the sheriff who is stereotypical of all small town sheriffs. When a suicide note is found in the girl’s purse, the sheriff considers it an open-and-closed case of suicide.

Della’s reporter’s instinct kicks in, and she begins her own investigation. She calls on old friends back in D. C. and even enlists the help of her now-unemployed ex-husband.

The story takes place in the late 1980s, making it a combination historical mystery and cozy-bordering-on procedural mystery. Della and Abit take turns narrating the story. At first, I didn’t think I was going to like the story. The cover isn’t appealing; I would not have picked it up if I saw it on a bookstore shelf. (The author invited me to review the book, in case you’re wondering.) It took a while to get into Abit’s dialect, but McDaniel pulls it off. Still it got old fluctuating between Della’s correct grammar and Abit’s vocabulary and punctuation. That is the main reason “Life for a Life” receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

[Ana Manwaring · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lynda McDaniel’s cozy mystery, A Life for a Life, is one of the most satisfying books I’ve read this year. Everything about the book delighted me. I want to know more about the quirky folks in the North Carolina mountains and their southern customs.

The story is a cloze puzzle with protagonists Della, a former high-profile Washington D.C. journalist, and Abit, a somewhat “slow” fifteen-year-old local, meting out information in chapters of alternating points of view. The book commences with a prologue where Abit announces, “My life was saved by a murder.” It’s true. Throughout the narrative Abit and Della form a bond, and both characters journey into self-discovery and growth. Each brings skills and knowledge to the murder investigation and life in a closed society that the other lacks. Colorful supporting characters add to or hinder the work of living in Laurel Falls and finding a murderer.

McDaniel’s writing style, while vivid with detail, is deceptively straightforward. She uses authentic sounding dialog and delivers real down-home southern mountain culture in what one reviewer compared to the style of Fannie Flagg. A Life for a Life has also been compared to To Kill a Mockingbird. Both are character driven and back a strong message of forgiveness, redemption and acceptance. The characters and the setting are as much to do with the story as the mystery. McDaniel’s attention to detail and adroit descriptions allow the reader to step right into Laurel Falls. Drawing from her “back to the land” years in North Carolina, McDaniel has stitched a patchwork of true and fictional events and people into a thoughtful mystery rooted in race, greed power and sorrow.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has so many dimensions to it, with multiple stories masterfully woven together. The protagonist, Della, has escaped from Washington, DC for a new life in the North Carolina mountains where she hopes to find peace and tranquility. She needs something to challenge her, though, and purchases a run-down general store and breathes new life into it with renovations. The problem is that even though she is providing a much-needed and valuable service to the community, her efforts are not rewarded with a warm welcome by the folks living there. However, she is befriended by a boy named Vester who lives next door. and goes by the name Abit, which is explained in the story.

Della is recently divorced, but still stays in touch with her ex, Alex, who has suffered a recent defeat in his journalism career. He now works free-lance as an investigative journalist and turns out to be a valuable resource for Della when she is confronted with the discovery of a dead girl in the woods.

Although the story revolves around this dead girl, Della's determination to identify her and answer the questions surrounding her suicide note, Della's relationships are also explored. Her friendship with Abit does wonders for his self-esteem and turns him into a valuable partner. There are too many charming elements to this story to enumerate, but suffice it to say that they make the story very entertaining. Of course there are also elements of danger and distrust, but Della's perseverance wins out in the end.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quiet, flowing mystery that reflects the slower, gentler pace of the South that we all imagine. McDaniel has a very thoughtful style that allows for a division of perspectives leading to little confusion or “catch up” effort on the part of the reader. Sometimes authors become so enamored with their narrative divisions and games that they forget that the reader does not live in their headspace with them. This writer is very aware of her readership and the plotline progresses along a very logical, methodical path. For those of you who prefer fast paced, horrifically twisted tales, this is not the series for you. But if you give McDaniel’s main characters an open mind, they will enter into your reality with magnanimous warmth and touching human frailty. These are not superheroes; they are, as much as text and texture allow, flesh and bone souls that you will have no problem embracing. I stepped out of my comfort zone for this one and would have to say that I am intending to read more from this Voracious Readers Only author. Though I usually tend toward the twisted, this understated meander through North Carolina climes charmed me.

[Dove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good mystery book! I loved the lore on why his name was “Abit” cuz he was a tad slow and dumb growing up so his dads mean friends would call him a bit slow which turned into the nickname abit. So sad but so unique and creative from a writer’s perspective! I liked the combination of a hip, badass woman paired with this town outcast and they form an unlikely friendship. I love that she sees his potential and the real him and is such a good friend- not caring if people judge her for hanging with him, and constantly standing up for him. I also like that this murder, journals letters they found brought them closer together and helped them both find a sense of purpose in this small town. I loved the flashback chapters seeing Abits childhood and how mean his father was and how he found solace in this store. I love how he describes himself as big and scary looking but actually wouldn’t hurt a fly. I also liked his perspective of the badass girl- he saw her hurting and vulnerabilities, things that people don’t usually see about her. I thought the setting was unique too and their way of talking was so old American. Such a nice lovely read. Goes by so fast. I want so much more!

[Wall-to-wall books - wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice little mystery! The whole story had a very authentic feel to it. The story flips back and forth between the point of view of Abit, a fifteen yr old who is a bit delayed, and Della, a woman who runs the local general store, former reporter. I really like books that do this. I have to say this is probably my favorite way for a book to be written. I like getting inside the mind of two different characters.

I loved the dialog and conversations. All the characters were so real feeling. I really liked both Abit and Della. They had a nice relationship - kind of sweet. She was so nice to him.

I have to admit that is was a little slow for me in spots but that didn't stop me from enjoying the book. It actually felt like it was supposed to be that way - just lolly-gagging along just as you would imagine life would be in the Appalachian Mountains. Another review mentioned "To Kill a Mockingbird" and I was like "YEAH!" It does have that feel to it.

I voluntarily posted this review after receiving this book from Partners in Crime Book Tours. Thank you!

[Charles Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a messy divorce, DC writer Della Kincaid moved to Laurel Falls, NC and bought a failing general store. With the help of the former owner’s developmentally challenged son, Vester ‘Abit’ Bradshaw, she gets it up and running, and is beginning to slowly become an almost accepted part of the community. Then, while out walking one day, she finds the body of a young woman and her world starts to come apart at the seams. The sheriff calls it suicide, but she’s not so sure. When she and Abit start to snoop, things get even dicier.

A Life for a Life is the first of Lynda McDaniel’s Appalachian Mountain mysteries, and it’s a keeper. Told alternately from Della and Abit’s points of view, it walks and then runs through North Carolina’s mountains and small towns at a not-so-leisurely pace that will leave you breathless. The author has an eye and ear for her subject—locale and people—that will plunge you into the scene in a big way.

A series to watch for. I received a complimentary copy of this book. I give it four stars.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Appalachian Series 1

Della takes over a local general store its former owners failed to make a go of and with it acquires Abit, the former owner’s slow son who sits in a repaired wicker chair out front and minds the store, so to speak.

The central mystery of the piece is a body she encounters when she goes for a walk in the woods. The local sheriff takes the lazy man’s route and closes the case without much investigation. Wife beating is just business as usual, the way it’s always been.

Being the sole proprietor of a general store is no picnic. The locals think they own you and feel you’re at their beck and call expecting you to have their favourites available whenever they feel the need.

I’ve driven the Blue Ridge and Ashville is the Walton’s territory and the hollers home base for Trigiani and Desmond Doss.

I’m not a fan of books that keep changing the point of view but at least this one tells you who is narrating.

Seemed to take forever to get this book read.

Hot shot reporter from DC meets the hollers.

[Deb Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, set in the Appalachian mountain ranges and told from the viewpoint of two characters. Bella, new to the area and trying to make a go of owning a country store and Abit, a young local man with learning difficulties who has been pulled from school and who is given some work by Bella.

Bella discovers a dead body and, although the local sherif is determined to write it off as a suicide, feels determined to solve the murder. This slow boiler is delightfully filled with many local characters, each with their own mindsets and ways. Bella also uses help from friends from Washington DC where she worked as a journalist. Slowly the mystery unravels as does Bella's future and a new beginning tor Abit.

Five stars for this well-written and edited book. I was provided with a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, from the author and Voracious Readers Only.

[Imogen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this book is labels a mystery, I’d say that the draw to it is more towards the character developments and relationships rather than the mystery element. Yes the mystery created a good baseline and plot. But what made this a great book was how none of the characters were ‘normal’ and even abit who has special needs and was always mistreated due to them, found his people due to unfortunate circumstances. Then together through working the mystery they broke down his walls and brought him back to life, and showed him that he was worth so much more than how everyone else was treating him.
A common sentence I am hearing when referring to this book is ‘one life was lost, but another one was gained’ and no truer words have ever been spoken about a book.
This book held a great mystery and twist, but the main pull is how heartwarming it is.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book about people in the Appalachian mountains. Della wanted to move out of her town and ended up in this little town called Laurel Falls She bought a little grocery store from the owners who lived next door. They had a son who liked to sit on the stores porch all the time . His dad called him Abit cause he was abit slow. His dad took him out of school when he was young yet. Abit ended up helping Della at the store do things for her. Della finds a girl dead and the sheriff said it was a suicide, but Della and Abit thought other wise. So them two and Dellas ex-husband tried to find out what really happened to this young girl . At first nobody cared about it but Della intended to find out the real truth. I'm going to read the next book called The Roads to Damascus.

[Laura Ruetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes a book comes along and the characters just feel as if you have known them forever and when you get to the last page, you actually feel sad. That is exactly how I felt when I finished this book. This is a mystery, but the character driven story here will both endear you and tug at your heart. The dynamic between Della, the store owner and seen as the outsider, and Abit, the young local boy who is seen as an outsider just for being slower - is a driving force in the story and one of the reasons that this book just resonated with me. Their friendship, and the growth that they both go through is so well-written and engaging, and it's just so organic in how it evolves so it adds so much depth to the mystery at the heart of the story.