Friday, June 8, 2012

"If you can't get rid of the skeleton in your closet, you'd best teach it to dance." Geroge Bernard Shaw

GIVEAWAY

Starvation Lake is a small community in Michigan with many elderly residents. Monday night bingo is a main source of entertainment and gossip for this group.

Someone has been breaking into the homes of some elderly residents on Monday nights. Up to now, they didn't seem to be taking anything.  But now, Gus Carpenter, editor of the "Pilot," learns that his mother's home has been broken into. Her friend and neighbor, who was looking after her, has been killed.

With small town politics, the sheriff is running for re-election and his challenger is using the break-ins and murder as a political tool. He claims that the sheriff isn't doing a good job and encourages people to vote for him.

Gus's on again, off again, girlfriend, Darlene Esper is a sheriff's deputy and Gus thinks that if the sheriff isn't re-elected, Darlene would change job.

The only clue about the home invader is the name of a former priest who had been at the local parish when a nun disappeared in 1944. After this comes out, some officials wonder if the Catholic Church could be behind the break-ins.

Much of the novel's enjoyment comes from the narrative voice of Gus Carpenter. The author also has a talent for the use of dialogue and there are many scenes when the reader can visualize being right there in the action.

There is an interesting sup-plot about the incidents about what was going on with the nun who disappeared and the priest.

Beneath the central story is the fact that the town is heading toward a possible state hockey championship and one of the players becomes a pawn for a religious group.

This is a well written, smoothly plotted mystery with good characterization and an interesting plot.


http://www.amazon.com/review/R1T1Y2GRMOKUCC/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1416563660&nodeID=&tag=&linkCode=

Giveaway Rules:
1. see above link and read Amazon review, following the review, indicate "YES" helpful.
2. be a follower of this blog
3. leave email address for contact and indicate steps 1 and 2 are complete.
4. this is for a hard cover copy, and only U.S. and Canada
5. Through June 22.

Good luck

24 comments:

Ethan said...

Sounds like a good mystery. I completed the steps.
-Ethan
ethanschneider135@yahoo.com
http://e135-abookaweek.blogspot.com/

Dana said...

Sounds like a great book!
I completed the mandatory steps
GFC Danasquare
danasquare3@aol.com

Unknown said...

I completed the steps!
Following via GFC: Beth DeRenzis
beth6325@yahoo.com

Lori Thomas said...

Love mysteries!!! Thx 4 the chance.

completed steps
gfc(Lori Thomas)
ctymice@gmail.com

Steph said...

Thanks for the giveaway! I am a follower of your blog & I liked the Amazon review.

stephward84@hotmail.com

Elizabeth said...

Sounds like a great book! I, too, have completed steps 1 and 2.
bethann.wagner@gmail.com

Linda Kish said...

I am a GFC follower

I completed steps 1 & 2. The book sounds terrific!

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

csthankful said...

I enjoyed your synopsis of The Skelton Key very much. I did follow steps one and two. Thanks for this great opportunity to possibly win a book! Wahoo! Blessings, Connie Sue
csthanfkul(at)midrivers(dot)com

Unknown said...

Sounds like a good book. I completed the steps. I am a follower and email subscriber. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

Anonymous said...

Being from Michigan, this book piques my curiosity. It sounds like a great read!

Voted on Amazon
GFC: Twisty J
twistingthelens@gmail.com

Sharon said...

I've completed steps 1 & 2.

sharn3960 (@) comcast (.)net

Thanks for the giveaway Mike!

Liese2 said...

I follow your blog as Lisa Walker.
I marked the review as helpful and it sounds like a great book!
sqwalker2@hotmail.com
sqwalker2@gmail.com

Nancy said...

I indicated that your review was helpful. I also follow your blog. Thanks for the giveaway!

Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

Kasee said...

I clicked YES on Amazon and I'm a follower of your blog. I enjoy reading your reviews and would love to read this book!
kaseejohnson@verizon.net
Kasee Johnson

Kelly said...

Thank you for the giveaway.
I completed all the steps.

GFC: ronnkelly3

ronnkelly3@aol.com

Pam said...

The book sounds really good. Thank you for inviting me. :)
Steps completed.

GFC: VanillaOrchids

Pam
vanillaorchids69(at)gmail(dot)com

mamabunny13 said...

I would love to be entered in this giveaway, thanks!

yes on Amazon.
gfc - mamabunny13
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

Vicki said...

I've completed steps 1 & 2

irbratb(@)gmail(.)com

rubynreba said...

This looks like a mystery I would enjoy.
I have completed the steps.

pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

whitegold said...

I really enjoyed your review! Thanks! I completed steps 1 & 2.

whitegold [at] yahoo [dot] com

AEKZ2 said...

I completed the steps. Thanks for the review.

annettekz2@yahoo.com

techeditor said...

I completed both steps. Thanks for the offer. I live in Michigan, and it's about time I read Gruley.

techeditor said...

I completed both steps. Thanks for the offer. I live in Michigan, and it's about time I read Gruley.

bethvollbach(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Unknown said...

Best wishes to Tore and Sharn as winners of the copy of "The Skeleton Box."
Hope you enjoy it and hope everyone will continue to enter my giveaways.

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