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Faye Longchamp #6
Strangers
"This contemporary mystery is drenched with Florida history and with gothic elements that should appeal to a broad range of readers." ― Booklist Faye Longchamp and husband Joe Wolf Mantooth have founded an archaeological consulting firm―just in time for the economy to tank. But a meeting with a couple who run an elegant B&B in a historic home in St. Augustine, Florida, lands the firm's first big project. Within a day of their arrival at Dunkirk Manor, a lovely young employee disappears, leaving behind a sinister smear of blood in her car, a collection of priceless artifacts, and a note asking for Faye's help. Two days later, the missing woman's boyfriend is found floating in the Matanzas River, his throat slashed. The detective in charge of the case believes that the artifacts are key to the crime and hires Faye to track down their origin. The artifacts Faye and Joe excavate at their work site date from every era of St. Augustine history, and the discovery of a buried cache of children's toys from the 1920s hits eight-months-pregnant Faye particularly hard. Dunkirk Manor seems haunted in a way that Faye can't explain. Then a stunning discovery is the diary of a priest who left Spain in 1565 and was present at the city's birth. Faye is driven to translate the manuscript. In what could be an unfolding tale by the Brothers Grimm, Faye and Joe uncover some terrible secrets....
311 pages, Hardcover
First published May 27, 2010
86 people are currently reading
297 people want to read
About the author
Mary Anna Evans
36 books458 followersMary Anna Evans is an award-winning author, a writing professor, and she holds degrees in physics and engineering, a background that, as it turns out, is ideal for writing her new book, The Physicists' Daughter. Set in WWII-era New Orleans, The Physicists' Daughter introduces Justine Byrne, whom Mary Anna describes as "a little bit Rosie-the-Riveter and a little bit Bletchley Park codebreaker."
When Justine, the daughter of two physicists who taught her things girls weren't expected to know in 1944, realizes that her boss isn't telling her the truth about the work she does in her factory job, she draws on the legacy of her unconventional upbringing to keep her division running and protect her coworkers, her country, and herself from a war that is suddenly very close to home.
Her crime fiction has earned recognition that includes the Oklahoma Book Award, the Will Rogers Medallion Awards Gold Medal, the Mississippi Author Award, a spot on Voice of Young America’s (VOYA) list of “Adult Mysteries with Young Adult Appeal,” a writer’s residency from The Studios of Key West, the Benjamin Franklin Award, the Florida Historical Society’s Patrick D. Smith Florida Literature Award, and three Florida Book Awards bronze medals.
In addition to writing crime fiction, she writes about crime fiction, as evidenced by the upcoming Bloomsbury Handbook to Agatha Christie, which she coedited with J.D Bernthal.
For the incurably curious, Mary Anna’s first published work, her master’s thesis, was entitled A Modeling Study of the NH3-NO-O2 Reaction Under the Operating Conditions of a Fluidized Bed Combustor. Like her mysteries, it was a factually based page-turner but, no, it’s not available online.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryAnnaEvan...
Twitter: @maryannaevans
Instagram :https://www.instagram.com/maryannaevans/
BookBub: @maryannaevans
When Justine, the daughter of two physicists who taught her things girls weren't expected to know in 1944, realizes that her boss isn't telling her the truth about the work she does in her factory job, she draws on the legacy of her unconventional upbringing to keep her division running and protect her coworkers, her country, and herself from a war that is suddenly very close to home.
Her crime fiction has earned recognition that includes the Oklahoma Book Award, the Will Rogers Medallion Awards Gold Medal, the Mississippi Author Award, a spot on Voice of Young America’s (VOYA) list of “Adult Mysteries with Young Adult Appeal,” a writer’s residency from The Studios of Key West, the Benjamin Franklin Award, the Florida Historical Society’s Patrick D. Smith Florida Literature Award, and three Florida Book Awards bronze medals.
In addition to writing crime fiction, she writes about crime fiction, as evidenced by the upcoming Bloomsbury Handbook to Agatha Christie, which she coedited with J.D Bernthal.
For the incurably curious, Mary Anna’s first published work, her master’s thesis, was entitled A Modeling Study of the NH3-NO-O2 Reaction Under the Operating Conditions of a Fluidized Bed Combustor. Like her mysteries, it was a factually based page-turner but, no, it’s not available online.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryAnnaEvan...
Twitter: @maryannaevans
Instagram :https://www.instagram.com/maryannaevans/
BookBub: @maryannaevans
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
October 27, 2019
This book was based in St. Augustine, Florida. There is abundant curiosity and intrigue surrounding archaeological digs to preserve the historical artifacts. The was an absorbant amount of emphasis was placed on Fay's pregnancy status.
DESCRIPTION:
Faye Longchamp and husband Joe Wolf Mantooth have founded an archaeological consulting firm—just in time for the economy to tank. But a meeting with a couple who run an elegant B&B in a historic home in St. Augustine, Florida, lands the firm's first big project. Within a day of their arrival at Dunkirk Manor, a lovely young employee disappears, leaving behind a sinister smear of blood in her car, a collection of priceless artifacts, and a note asking for Faye's help. Two days later, the missing woman's boyfriend is found floating in the Matanzas River, his throat slashed. The detective in charge of the case believes that the artifacts are key to the crime and hires Faye to track down their origin.
The artifacts Faye and Joe excavate at their worksite date from every era of St. Augustine history and the discovery of a buried cache of children's toys from the 1920s hits eight-months-pregnant Faye particularly hard. Dunkirk Manor seems haunted in a way that Faye can't explain.
Then a stunning discovery is made: the diary of a priest who left Spain in 1565 and was present at the city's birth. Faye is driven to translate the manuscript. In what could be an unfolding tale by the Brothers Grimm, Faye and Joe uncover some terrible secrets....
The interweaving of historical facts made the events portrayed very plausible. There was plenty to keep the reader interested in the main story, as well as the inclusion of the ancient writings of the priest.
Suzanne's role in aiding the recovery of the victims and looking out for Victor was impressive and noteworthy.
I would definitely recommend this series to anyone interested in archeology and mystery. I read this book on loan from my local library system.
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Strangers
(Faye Longchamp Series Book 6)
by Mary Anna Evans (Author)
Page Length: 320 Pages
---
REVIEW:
"This contemporary mystery is drenched with Florida history and with gothic elements that should appeal to a broad range of readers." —Booklist
..
DESCRIPTION:
Faye Longchamp and husband Joe Wolf Mantooth have founded an archaeological consulting firm—just in time for the economy to tank. But a meeting with a couple who run an elegant B&B in a historic home in St. Augustine, Florida, lands the firm's first big project. Within a day of their arrival at Dunkirk Manor, a lovely young employee disappears, leaving behind a sinister smear of blood in her car, a collection of priceless artifacts, and a note asking for Faye's help. Two days later, the missing woman's boyfriend is found floating in the Matanzas River, his throat slashed. The detective in charge of the case believes that the artifacts are key to the crime and hires Faye to track down their origin.
The artifacts Faye and Joe excavate at their worksite date from every era of St. Augustine history and the discovery of a buried cache of children's toys from the 1920s hits eight-months-pregnant Faye particularly hard. Dunkirk Manor seems haunted in a way that Faye can't explain.
Then a stunning discovery is made: the diary of a priest who left Spain in 1565 and was present at the city's birth. Faye is driven to translate the manuscript. In what could be an unfolding tale by the Brothers Grimm, Faye and Joe uncover some terrible secrets....
The interweaving of historical facts made the events portrayed very plausible. There was plenty to keep the reader interested in the main story, as well as the inclusion of the ancient writings of the priest.
Suzanne's role in aiding the recovery of the victims and looking out for Victor was impressive and noteworthy.
I would definitely recommend this series to anyone interested in archeology and mystery. I read this book on loan from my local library system.
---------------------
Strangers
(Faye Longchamp Series Book 6)
by Mary Anna Evans (Author)
Page Length: 320 Pages
---
REVIEW:
"This contemporary mystery is drenched with Florida history and with gothic elements that should appeal to a broad range of readers." —Booklist
..
January 10, 2013
I do enjoy this series and have been happy to get a few for kindle. My reading has been a bit out of order so there are a couple I need to catch up on but the series combines two favorites, mystery and archaeology. This particular episode, read while I have a horrible cold, helped me weather the malady. And thankfully my head cleared a bit tonight as I finished so I didn't miss any of the multiple threads being tied up.
The basic plot involves a heavily pregnant Faye Longchamps-Mantooth and her husband Joe undertaking a dig on the grounds of a turn of the century mansion-turned-bed-and-breakfast in St Augustine, Florida. As always, I am not going to go further into the plot except to say it kept me interested during a couple of sleepless nights (for which I am very grateful) and I intend to read those episodes I've missed.
There is quite a bit of history of the area provided for those who enjoy that with their mysteries.
The basic plot involves a heavily pregnant Faye Longchamps-Mantooth and her husband Joe undertaking a dig on the grounds of a turn of the century mansion-turned-bed-and-breakfast in St Augustine, Florida. As always, I am not going to go further into the plot except to say it kept me interested during a couple of sleepless nights (for which I am very grateful) and I intend to read those episodes I've missed.
There is quite a bit of history of the area provided for those who enjoy that with their mysteries.
October 15, 2022
Somewhere between the last book that I read in this series, which was number 3, Effigies, and this book which is number 6, archaeologist Faye Longchamp completed work on her Ph.D. and she and her assistant/lover Joe Mantooth got married. As this book opens, we learn that the now-married Faye is eight months pregnant with their first child.
We also learn that Faye and Joe have established a new archaeological firm and that their firm has just been selected for a project in America's oldest city, St. Augustine, Florida. Four hundred years have given the city a lot of history and a lot of artifacts and skeletons to explore, and Faye is eager to get on with that exploration.
But soon after Faye's arrival on the scene, a woman from the archaeological team disappears. A trail of blood at the scene fuels fears for the woman's safety and her survival. The scene is also littered with priceless artifacts, and the detective in charge of the case hires Faye as a consultant to discover their origin. The plot thickens when, two days after the woman disappears, her boyfriend's body is found floating in the Matanzas River. His throat had been slashed.
Among the artifacts that Faye discovers is the diary of a priest who had left Spain in 1565 and was present at the founding of the city of St. Augustine. She sets about translating the diary. Her translation is intermingled with the telling of present-day events. The story is presented in rotating chapters from the present day and then a chapter of the translated diary. Over the course of the book, this adds clarity and depth to the story.
Quite a bit of the history of St. Augustine is interwoven into this story and I found that particularly illuminating. It definitely gave an extra dimension to the plot. Moreover, Faye and Joe are both interesting and likable characters and it is easy to root for them and to experience events through their eyes. This is a well-written series and I especially like the archaeological angle since archaeology has always been a keen interest of mine. I look forward to reading more about Faye and Joe and their exploits.
We also learn that Faye and Joe have established a new archaeological firm and that their firm has just been selected for a project in America's oldest city, St. Augustine, Florida. Four hundred years have given the city a lot of history and a lot of artifacts and skeletons to explore, and Faye is eager to get on with that exploration.
But soon after Faye's arrival on the scene, a woman from the archaeological team disappears. A trail of blood at the scene fuels fears for the woman's safety and her survival. The scene is also littered with priceless artifacts, and the detective in charge of the case hires Faye as a consultant to discover their origin. The plot thickens when, two days after the woman disappears, her boyfriend's body is found floating in the Matanzas River. His throat had been slashed.
Among the artifacts that Faye discovers is the diary of a priest who had left Spain in 1565 and was present at the founding of the city of St. Augustine. She sets about translating the diary. Her translation is intermingled with the telling of present-day events. The story is presented in rotating chapters from the present day and then a chapter of the translated diary. Over the course of the book, this adds clarity and depth to the story.
Quite a bit of the history of St. Augustine is interwoven into this story and I found that particularly illuminating. It definitely gave an extra dimension to the plot. Moreover, Faye and Joe are both interesting and likable characters and it is easy to root for them and to experience events through their eyes. This is a well-written series and I especially like the archaeological angle since archaeology has always been a keen interest of mine. I look forward to reading more about Faye and Joe and their exploits.
May 1, 2012
I had read Plunder, the most recent book in the Faye Longchamp series, earlier this month. I remembered at that point that I hadn't yet gotten to this one. I consider Strangers a much better book than Plunder because the characters interest me more, and it's more thematically integrated. I very much liked the way Faye's pregnancy is braided together with other plot strands. This isn't my favorite of the series. That would be Floodgates. But it is very good.
May 26, 2021
Another good one!
December 22, 2021
I liked the background history of St. Augustine, Fl. in this book. I thought the reason behind Glynis's disappearance was believable, up to a point. The end, when Faye and Joe made me surprisingly emotional and happy for them.
August 25, 2014
Another enjoyable book in the Faye Longchamps series of books. In this installment, Faye and Joe own their own archaeological consulting firm and take a job at a gilded-age mansion in St. Augustine, Florida. Along the way, Faye is asked to evaluate a diary written by a Spanish priest who came to the New World in the sixteenth century. A very interesting look at the history of our country's oldest city.
June 3, 2021
Love,love, love this series! Faye and Joe are in St. Augustine, Florida, working on excavating the grounds of an historic mansion. It’s exciting and scary as Faye becomes a victim. As always a great adventure!
June 11, 2022
This was only ok. It wasn't bad. It wasn't good. It was like one of those sitcoms you put on in the background to keep you occupied but you aren't overly invested. Yeah, like that. It was evenly paced, kind of Interesting, extremely predictable and had been sitting on my tbr for way too long. But now I know why. It was a time filler. I'm sure many others might find this superb but I've read many many many books way too similar. This is one of those template series where the author puts the main character in various locations doing various jobs but is there to solve a mystery. I thought this might have more history or a spark of creativity like Dan Brown novels. Nope. Oh well.
September 1, 2023
Audiobook. Another winner with a bonus at the end of author insights on the characters. The atmosphere in Dunkirk Manor just gets more oppressive as the story unfolds, and the alternating timelines only add to that feeling. So glad the same reader is doing the series.
March 25, 2022
"Flush with her brand new PhD, Faye Longchamp and husband Joe Wolf Mantooth have founded an archaeological consulting firm -- just in time for the economy to tank. But a meeting with a couple who run an elegant B&G in an historic home in St. Augustine, Florida, lands the firm's first big project.
"Within a day of their arrival at Dunkirk Manor, a lovely young employee disappears, leaving behind a sinister smear of blood in her car, a collection of priceless artifacts, and a note asking for Faye's help. Two days later, the missing woman's jerk of a boyfriend is found floating in the Matanzas River, his throat slashed. The detective in charge of the case believes that the artifacts are key to the crime and hires Faye to track down their origin.
"The artifacts Faye & Joe excavate at their work site date from every era of St. Augustine history, and the discovery of a buried cache of children's toys from the 1920s hits eight-months-pregnant Faye particularly hard. Dunkirk Manor seems haunted in a way that Faye can't explain.
"Then the most stunning discovery is made: the diary of a priest who left Spain in 1565 and was present at the city's birth. Faye is driven to translate the manuscript. In what seems like an unfolding tale by the Brothers Grimm, Faye and Joe uncover terrible secrets past and present."
~~front & back flaps
This book in the series is particularly scary. Faye is in serious danger, only it's not very evident until almost the end of the book. Then you look back and see how many time she came so close to that danger, and it makes your heart cringe.
The tale of Victor is particularly heart wrenching. Ninety years old, he's succumbing to old age and mental retardation, but has very clear memories of the past. Living in a very dilapidated old house, he seems bereft of the basic necessities of life, but he's an integral part of the mystery and its solving.
The ending is hair raising, but Joe and Faye have each other, and everyone else is also safe. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
"Within a day of their arrival at Dunkirk Manor, a lovely young employee disappears, leaving behind a sinister smear of blood in her car, a collection of priceless artifacts, and a note asking for Faye's help. Two days later, the missing woman's jerk of a boyfriend is found floating in the Matanzas River, his throat slashed. The detective in charge of the case believes that the artifacts are key to the crime and hires Faye to track down their origin.
"The artifacts Faye & Joe excavate at their work site date from every era of St. Augustine history, and the discovery of a buried cache of children's toys from the 1920s hits eight-months-pregnant Faye particularly hard. Dunkirk Manor seems haunted in a way that Faye can't explain.
"Then the most stunning discovery is made: the diary of a priest who left Spain in 1565 and was present at the city's birth. Faye is driven to translate the manuscript. In what seems like an unfolding tale by the Brothers Grimm, Faye and Joe uncover terrible secrets past and present."
~~front & back flaps
This book in the series is particularly scary. Faye is in serious danger, only it's not very evident until almost the end of the book. Then you look back and see how many time she came so close to that danger, and it makes your heart cringe.
The tale of Victor is particularly heart wrenching. Ninety years old, he's succumbing to old age and mental retardation, but has very clear memories of the past. Living in a very dilapidated old house, he seems bereft of the basic necessities of life, but he's an integral part of the mystery and its solving.
The ending is hair raising, but Joe and Faye have each other, and everyone else is also safe. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
March 30, 2021
Faye and Joe are back in Florida -- but on the east coast in St. Augustine! They now have their own consulting business and are expecting their first child. A couple who run a B&B have hired them to see what lies in their back yard in hopes of putting in a swimming pool for their guests. A young woman -- an employee at the B&B-- disappears a few days after they arrive. And a few days later the body of her boyfriend washed up. Because some artifacts were found near the missing woman's car, Faye is called in to consult with the local police. Meanwhile Joe is being extremely solicitous and Faye is tired much of the time--especially because she has found an old diary from the 16th Century and reads it when she should be sleeping.
April 10, 2021
I barely made it through this one. The plot drags, there is an ancient diary that really adds nothing to the plot. Then there are some striking inconsistencies. Faye is now somehow able to be a consultant for the police department in her capacity as an archaeologist, but a homicide detective is showing her a dead body and asking her opinion on all aspects of the case. Not likely. Then throughout the whole story Joe barely lets Faye out of his sight to go to the bathroom, but somehow he lets her go off on her own in a house with a kidnapper. From the very beginning it is mentioned that Faye still has six long weeks of pregnancy to go and I knew immediately that she would be having that baby six weeks early, so no surprises there. Fortunately this was free from Audible.
August 1, 2019
The setting is St. Augustine, Florida and Faye and her team are consulting on a historic house whose owners, Daniel and Suzanne Wrather, want to put in a swimming pool. In an attic, she discovers a journal from a priest who was one of the earliest Spanish settlers. Then Suzanne’s assistant, Glynis, disappears and things start to get complicated. As far as the archeology is concerned, this is one of the less exciting entries in the series and I did not care for the woman-in-peril plot.
December 24, 2021
Intriguing continuation of this series as Faye and her husband Joe, friend Magda and crew are hired to work at a historic house in St. Augustine and find themselves embroidered in a murder mystery, a kidnapping and the the fascinating history of the house and city. Having lived in St. Augustine, it was extremely interesting to read this story and the many layers of history, just like the city’s history.
February 4, 2018
Read a sequel first, and liked it much better. This one, I don't know, just drug. Difficult to get into the story. The 'book in the book' supposed to be written by a priest in the 1600's was unbelievable, the reason why the one pregnant girl disappeared, the the same thing happening to 2 other women (one pregnant, one with a child)...not so believable, either.
September 20, 2022
romance , action and murder, what more could you want?
Love this series and this book did not disappoint at all. Mix In archeology with the aforementioned triple threat and you have an irresistible read. Did I finish in one day ? You bet! Have I just downloaded the next one - of course!
Love this series and this book did not disappoint at all. Mix In archeology with the aforementioned triple threat and you have an irresistible read. Did I finish in one day ? You bet! Have I just downloaded the next one - of course!
March 24, 2018
Faye Longchamp series, book #6. On Faye's first job as manager of an archeological field crew and while being 8 months pregnant, she and two other pregnant women are abducted by a crazed husband who wants to give his wife children that they are unable to have themselves.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2020
This is one of my favorites in the series so far. I love that it was set in St Augustine with a few ghost stories. Also it had a small side story of the first pandemic to hit the United States when England brought disease over to the native Indians of Florida.
July 7, 2020
Great series
I've read the books in this series with great pleasure. While reading about Faye's archeological endeavors, I've learned historical facts. And I've followed the relationship between Faye and Joe with much interest. I highly recommend these books.
I've read the books in this series with great pleasure. While reading about Faye's archeological endeavors, I've learned historical facts. And I've followed the relationship between Faye and Joe with much interest. I highly recommend these books.
March 20, 2022
oh, baby!
I like the series but wish there was more archaeological finds and less telling of the same information. Let the characters evolve more through dialogue and actions instead.
I like the series but wish there was more archaeological finds and less telling of the same information. Let the characters evolve more through dialogue and actions instead.
April 7, 2024
6th in Faye Longchamp mystery series. Faye had the baby. Michael Hawk Longchamp Mantooth. Crazy hubby Daniel tried to kidnap three kids ~ 2 unborn babies (including Faye's) and Rachel, Magna's daughter. Suspenseful. Joe to the rescue again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2017
Love this series
May 1, 2018
Although these are murder mysteries this particular book by this author really affected me a lot more. It felt more dark and disturbing than the others.
November 19, 2019
I don't recall how I stumbled on this series, but I love it and I am not an easy catch.
December 24, 2019
An interesting story that I liked a lot. I am finding archaeology interesting, and can't wait to read the next book in the series.
May 28, 2020
Another great book in the series!
February 7, 2021
The 6th book in the Faye Longchamp series. Faye and Joe work on an archaeological project in St. Augustine, Florida. Interesting characters. Enjoyable story.
January 11, 2025
Intensely suspenseful!
Another good book in this series. I enjoyed the historical content much more than the modern who done it but thoroughly enjoyed this book
Another good book in this series. I enjoyed the historical content much more than the modern who done it but thoroughly enjoyed this book
July 15, 2025
Alway a good mix of history, mystery, and archeology, this book in the series read quicker than the previous five. Could be attributed to a night of full moon sleeplessness, though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews