Death of a Hoosier Schoolmaster: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: A Rusty Gun and a New Investigation Equals Danger
Review: Margo Brown is working in her garden in a small town in southern Indiana when she finds a rusty pistol in the dirt. She takes it to a gun collector for dating, then learns that Gus Stiener, former owner of the land, died under strange circumstances, so she decides to go to the library to find out just how he died.

Before long, her neighbors all know of her find and not everyone is happy about it. When she gets a message warning her to leave well enough alone, it only spurs her on. By now she's discovered Gus died of a gunshot wound and his two sons were indicted for the murder. They weren't convicted, but according to the older residents of the town, everybody knew they were guilty. Everyone also knew that Gus Steiner, a stern schoolmaster and sheep farmer, was a wealthy old bastard who worked his sons till they dropped.

Margo is sure she's discovered evidence that could reopen the case, but she's still being warned off. Someone pushes into the river during a fireworks display on the Fourth of July, leaving her wet, filthy and mad. She won't quit till she learns the truth about Gus Steiner's death no matter what the cost.

I found the plot of this nice five star mystery puzzling enough to hold my interest, and the twist in ending fooled me.

Review submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

Rating:
Summary: Marlis Day -schoolteacher, storyteller, mystery writer
Review: Marlis Day has once again managed to spin a fascinating "true" mystery with a homespun tale of a rural schoolteacher's life and quest. I found the mystery involved with the schoolmaster to be filled with plenty of twists and turns, but my very favorite part of Marlis's book was the fabric of the lives of her characters. I began to envy the quiet, country life, the quirky characters with names like "Cactus" and "Roxie" and the simple joys of being a teacher at home in the country for the summer. Marlis cannot write another book fast enough for me.

Rating:
Summary: Marlis Day -schoolteacher, storyteller, mystery writer
Review: Marlis Day has once again managed to spin a fascinating "true" mystery with a homespun tale of a rural schoolteacher's life and quest. I found the mystery involved with the schoolmaster to be filled with plenty of twists and turns, but my very favorite part of Marlis's book was the fabric of the lives of her characters. I began to envy the quiet, country life, the quirky characters with names like "Cactus" and "Roxie" and the simple joys of being a teacher at home in the country for the summer. Marlis cannot write another book fast enough for me.