The Spiral Bridge

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Summary: by Jim Elledge Author of To Go Forth in the Midst of Wolves
Review: In "The Spiral Bridge" Dr. Franzmeier has captured the essence of small town life in the '30's.

Even though this novel has the Minnesota farm area as its center of gravity, the story represents the quintessential heartland of America in its poignant depiction of the mores and moods of the Depression era it represents.

The story, a thriller with intriguing subplots, takes the reader on a journey with Tillie Tilden, a young college student, who steps into an enigma beyond her understanding when she accepts a teaching position in a country school. There is a mystery behind the departure of the previous teacher and no one wants to talk about it.

At first Tillie is unaware of the reasons behind the silence. There is a dark secret concerning the fate of the person she is replacing and the inhabitants of the village want to keep it that way.

As the plot unfolds the morbid details come out. It appears that the young woman Tilllie was to fill in for committed suicide. But was it suicide?

Ultimately Tillie discovers the former teacher's diary giving details that lead to the suspicion of murder.

With a good eye for description, and with a well-rounded plot, Franzmeier gives us a murder mystery in the rural setting of bygone days.

Always interesting and with many twists and turns this novel is a good read that you will not want to put down.

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Summary: Read and Enjoy!
Review: The Spiral Bridge left me feeling like part of a small town community in the '30s. Having a special needs child of my own, I was particularly taken with the character, Orville. And I cried in sympathy with his mother, Sally. This is truly a mystery worth reading with twists and turns that keep you captivated. It will be difficult to put the book down once you start.

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Summary: Mystery , Moral Issues Reign in The Spiral Bridge
Review: Want to take a suspenseful trip to Minnesota and experience real life in the small farm town of Rosemount just after the Great Depression? The Spiral Bridge will transport you there, along with heroine Tillie Tilden, a city-dweller hired to teach in Rosemount's one-room school. A diary Tillie discovers in the school wood room reveals chilling details that unravel a mystery surrounding her predecessor and impacts the entire community. A well-told tale that serves as the author's commentary on religious beliefs and moral issues of the early 1930's.