The legendary Native American Spirit Woman and her mountain lion companion, said to appear in times of trouble, are once again sighted near Lockleer Mountain. And there is trouble aplenty.
Twenty-four hours after Joe and his brother, Cyrus, quarrel over the ownership of a winning million dollar lottery ticket, Cyrus’s mutilated body is found in the mountains, ravaged by the local wildlife. Sheriff Peabody and Deputy Nate Darling are soon puzzled by stolen VA hospital drugs found in Cyrus’s bedroom. It seems likely the suspected homicide is either connected to the contested lottery ticket or the drugs.
Hearing of the crowds that inevitably follow such a disturbing event, Rosita Ramirez, a transient with two children, comes to Lockleer Mountain to sell homemade tamales. She is befriended by Nate’s fiancé, Lou Shoemaker, owner of the Pooper Scooper sewer disposal truck. Rosita parks her old motorhome at the First Baptist Church and Lou aids her in acquiring employment at the local diner.
Soon, malicious gossip erupts about Rosita and the pastor. The church deacons are divided between ignoring unproven gossip, versus concern the gossip will divide the congregation and affect the future of the church.
In addition to finding a killer, Sheriff Peabody and his deputies are now tasked with exposing the perpetrator of the gossip, or the pastor will be forced to leave. How can the Spirit Woman and her companions bring about a solution to the troubles that plague the rural community?
Review
The small town of Lockleer Mountain is home for Lou, the now owner of the sewer management service, her husband-to-be Deputy Nate Darling, and her good friend, Judy. The day-to-day is moving along. Joe Walling is released from prison and return home to his two young daughters and his brother, Cyrus, who has been taking care of him. Joe wins the lottery big, an owl is spotted, Cyrus is killed, the lion is sighted, and Nate sees a woman with green dress walking through the trees. No one wants to admit to being superstitious or spooked, but the owl and the spirit woman foretell trouble, with the woman and the lion pairing up to help the town return to its equilibrium.
The story is well-plotted and the characters and their interactions provide a feel for this small town and the effect these happenings and others have on the community, with ripple effects on the congregation of the local church. The story moves along at a steady with pace with a trade off of solutions and new problems that keep you guessing. This is one mystery, where I couldn't figure out the person behind the murder until the very end. An interesting and engaging cozy mystery.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.
About the Author
Elaine Faber's short stories are published in magazines and multiple anthologies. She is an active member of Sisters in Crime, IElk Grove Wrters Guild, and Northern California Publishers and Authors.
Black Cat's Legacy, Elaine's debut fantasy cat-mystery novel, is the first in a series of four Cat Mysteries involving Thumper, who solves mysteries with the aid of his ancestors' memories. Black Cat narrates part of each story with his witty opinions of the inferior humans he lives with.
Four Mrs. Odboddy mysteries are set in Northern CA during WWII, humorous historical fiction that are both informative and funny. Mrs. Odboddy - Hometown Patriot is the first in Elaine's WWII humorous mystery series. Mrs. Odboddy fights the war from the home front, seeing conspiracies and spies around every corner. When Mrs. Roosevelt comes to town to attend a funeral, Agnes's fears become a reality and she must prove she is, indeed a hometown patriot.
The Spirit Woman of Lockleer Mountain series highlights a legendary Native American spirit woman who aids a troubled town.
All books are reader friendly without explicit sex, extreme violence or profanity. Elaine lives in Elk Grove, CA, with her husband. They currently share their home with two house cats.
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