Books and other stuff I feel like discussing
By education and experience - Accountant with a specialty in taxation. Formerly a CPA (license has lapsed). Masters degree in law of taxation from University of Denver. Now retired. Part time work during baseball season as receptionist & switchboard operator for the Colorado Rockies. This gig feeds my soul in ways I have trouble articulating. One daughter, and four grandchildren. I share the house with two cats; a big goof of a cat called Grinch (named as a joke for his easy going "whatever" disposition); and Lady, a shelter adoptee with a regal bearing and sweet little soprano voice. I would be very bereft if it ever becomes necessary to keep house without a cat.
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Books by Donis Casey
Pat asked about this author - I think you can enjoy the books in any order, but as with all series, the various relationships between characters might make a little more sense beginning at the first book.
All are from Poisoned Pen Press
THE OLD BUZZARD HAD IT COMING published 7/05
The title is only the beginning of pleasure for the reader in this novel set on the plains of Oklahoma during the icy winter of 1912. Two families live on adjoining farms - Shaw Tucker and his wife Alafair live stable, productive lives, while Harley and Nona Day cling to the edge of stability. The Shaws have nine children, and Casey presents an appealing description of their family life and the routine of their days, never minimizing the daily rounds of repetitive, back breaking work, but also portraying their lively spirit and the deep love and concern each family member feels for the others.
The Days might as well be living on another planet. Harley runs a moonshine still, and while this occupation would have provided stable income for his family, he consumes too much of his output personally and has fallen into a pattern of repetitive abuse and cruelty towards his wife and children. In stark contrast to the neighboring Tuckers, the Day’s farm features broken down buildings, sparse furnishings, wretched animals and a grim picture of looming economic disaster. When Harley’s frozen body is discovered with a bullet to the brain, the small prairie community brims over with suspects, and to Alafair’s dismay the list of possible perpetrators includes one of her daughters and her sweetheart John Lee, the most responsible and well behaved of Harley’s many children.
The local sheriff is a cousin of Shaw Tucker, and this gives Alafair some insight into the progress of the investigation, and in a delightful “take charge” approach, Alafair works to clear her daughter, protect Phoebe’s young sweetheart and find answers to the circumstances of the death.
Short paragraphs inserted into the flow of the narrative provide an insight into the weight of a profound personal tragedy which still haunts Alafair. By the time all the action has concluded, Casey has provided a lovely resolution for her main character, which fits perfectly into the main story.
HORNSWOGGLED Published 9/06
Casey's second book featuring Alafair Tucker is just as enjoyable as the first. Casey sets her books in the early years of the 20th century in a small Oklahoma plains town. Everyone knows everyone else, and when the body of a local woman is found lodged in the roots of a tree growing on the banks of a stream running through the Tucker farm, theories abound among the townspeople on the precise details of her fate and what led up to her murder.
Several months later, Alafair learns that the personable young husband of the dead woman is a candidate for the hand of one of her daughters. Although the widower has a solid alibi and has been cleared of suspicion in his wife's death, other traits of his personality do not recommend him to Alafair as a prospective son in law. Using her solid position of respectability in the community and a persistent curiosity and stubborn streak, Alafair learns more and more details of the dead woman's unhappy life and startling information about the cruel mistreatment of her body after her death.
In the end, the true murderer is unveiled and life in the small Oklahoma enclave returns to the seasonal cycle of tasks on the farm, community celebrations and an enviable family life of love, mutual respect and hard work.
As with her earlier book, Casey enriches the telling of the story with regional idioms - as in the title - and an afterword featuring mouth watering recipies for Oklahoma staples we would now call "comfort food."
A thoughtful reader will realize that this small town haven will soon be beseiged by world wide events beyond the control of Alafair and indeed all others in her small community. At book's end in May of 1914, war in Europe is very close at hand. Casey's heroine is already sensing the approach of vast change. Readers who enjoy this series are sure to be anxious to learn of what lies in store for Alafair and her family.
THE DROP EDGE OF YONDER to be published October 2007
One of Alafair's daughters is enjoying an evening horseback ride when the small group of friends is assaulted by a sniper with a rifle. One young man is dead, and two young women are injured, one of them Alafair's daughter.
Against the backdrop of a sweltering prairie summer, the small community deals with contined sniper attacks and the frustration of repeated failures to find the killer.
The review of the third book is just an early sketch of a review I'll send to CrimeSpree Magazine. The other two are reviews already published there.
It's a pleasure to recommend this author! I hope other readers search out her books and enjoy them.
All are from Poisoned Pen Press
THE OLD BUZZARD HAD IT COMING published 7/05
The title is only the beginning of pleasure for the reader in this novel set on the plains of Oklahoma during the icy winter of 1912. Two families live on adjoining farms - Shaw Tucker and his wife Alafair live stable, productive lives, while Harley and Nona Day cling to the edge of stability. The Shaws have nine children, and Casey presents an appealing description of their family life and the routine of their days, never minimizing the daily rounds of repetitive, back breaking work, but also portraying their lively spirit and the deep love and concern each family member feels for the others.
The Days might as well be living on another planet. Harley runs a moonshine still, and while this occupation would have provided stable income for his family, he consumes too much of his output personally and has fallen into a pattern of repetitive abuse and cruelty towards his wife and children. In stark contrast to the neighboring Tuckers, the Day’s farm features broken down buildings, sparse furnishings, wretched animals and a grim picture of looming economic disaster. When Harley’s frozen body is discovered with a bullet to the brain, the small prairie community brims over with suspects, and to Alafair’s dismay the list of possible perpetrators includes one of her daughters and her sweetheart John Lee, the most responsible and well behaved of Harley’s many children.
The local sheriff is a cousin of Shaw Tucker, and this gives Alafair some insight into the progress of the investigation, and in a delightful “take charge” approach, Alafair works to clear her daughter, protect Phoebe’s young sweetheart and find answers to the circumstances of the death.
Short paragraphs inserted into the flow of the narrative provide an insight into the weight of a profound personal tragedy which still haunts Alafair. By the time all the action has concluded, Casey has provided a lovely resolution for her main character, which fits perfectly into the main story.
HORNSWOGGLED Published 9/06
Casey's second book featuring Alafair Tucker is just as enjoyable as the first. Casey sets her books in the early years of the 20th century in a small Oklahoma plains town. Everyone knows everyone else, and when the body of a local woman is found lodged in the roots of a tree growing on the banks of a stream running through the Tucker farm, theories abound among the townspeople on the precise details of her fate and what led up to her murder.
Several months later, Alafair learns that the personable young husband of the dead woman is a candidate for the hand of one of her daughters. Although the widower has a solid alibi and has been cleared of suspicion in his wife's death, other traits of his personality do not recommend him to Alafair as a prospective son in law. Using her solid position of respectability in the community and a persistent curiosity and stubborn streak, Alafair learns more and more details of the dead woman's unhappy life and startling information about the cruel mistreatment of her body after her death.
In the end, the true murderer is unveiled and life in the small Oklahoma enclave returns to the seasonal cycle of tasks on the farm, community celebrations and an enviable family life of love, mutual respect and hard work.
As with her earlier book, Casey enriches the telling of the story with regional idioms - as in the title - and an afterword featuring mouth watering recipies for Oklahoma staples we would now call "comfort food."
A thoughtful reader will realize that this small town haven will soon be beseiged by world wide events beyond the control of Alafair and indeed all others in her small community. At book's end in May of 1914, war in Europe is very close at hand. Casey's heroine is already sensing the approach of vast change. Readers who enjoy this series are sure to be anxious to learn of what lies in store for Alafair and her family.
THE DROP EDGE OF YONDER to be published October 2007
One of Alafair's daughters is enjoying an evening horseback ride when the small group of friends is assaulted by a sniper with a rifle. One young man is dead, and two young women are injured, one of them Alafair's daughter.
Against the backdrop of a sweltering prairie summer, the small community deals with contined sniper attacks and the frustration of repeated failures to find the killer.
The review of the third book is just an early sketch of a review I'll send to CrimeSpree Magazine. The other two are reviews already published there.
It's a pleasure to recommend this author! I hope other readers search out her books and enjoy them.
Read/Post Comments (3)
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