A Time to Heal

Rating:
Summary: An intensely autobiographical mystery
Review: Thomas Fiske is a retired manufacturing executive who had a chance to investigate some family history after breaking both legs while falling up some stairs. While he was recuperating, he had an opportunity to visit the homes of his great grandparents in Kentucky. He unraveled the mystery of an ancestor's death and produced this very readable story for public consumption.

In this intensely autobiographical mystery, single businessman Stokley Towles takes a sabbatical from his career when a broken leg lands him in the hospital and on the disabled list. While he is recuperating, he has a series of dreams involving conversations with his grandmother about a murder of an ancestor named Henry Vallandingham. Vallandingham was murdered in a small town in Missouri in 1856, just before the outbreak of the Civil War. Towles begins his own investigation, and is joined by Ariadne Edwards, who turns out to be a DEA agent investigating smuggling in the area. When they are followed and harassed by some of the locals, the journey into genealogy becomes something else:

"'What do you want?' Stoke said as he tried to get in front of Ari. He thought she might be able to get her gun out of her purse. But the men didn't like what he was doing. 'Stay where we can see you both,' the tall man commanded. Stoke stood still. 'Is this a robbery?' Ari asked the men. 'For the moment,' the man said, and added, 'so gimme your purse.' He handed The gun to his partner."

With his expertise in genealogy, Fiske is able to piece together an amazing story that reflects on a much wider arena than just an old family murder mystery. With the start of the Civil War, Fiske uncovers a conspiracy by pro-slavery advocates to murder anyone advocating for abolition of slavery in western Missouri. With the prize of Kansas as a possible slave state, these men would stop at nothing to preserve their lifestyle. A Time To Heal is a wonderfully crafted historical-mystery that is timeless in its conception. Mr. Fiske has offered an invaluable lesson to not only the children he substitute teaches, but to the world in general. A great read!...