MOONSHINE MURDER

Author:
Betty Sullivan La Pierre

Betty Sullivan La Pierre has now completed fourteen books in her Hawkman series and the latest, Moonshine Murder, is an outstanding example of her writing skills. Not only does Betty convey the solid and loving relationship between Hawkman and Jennifer, the constants in the series, but with the new characters she now introduces, she applies the same skills so they become alive, living breathing individuals, with human faults and virtues. With the complex structure of the mysterious family, their background and ambitions form a mosaic against which the drama unfolds. Adventurous and tensely written, Moonshine Murder makes for an enjoyable and suspenseful read. Highly Recommended.

***** Five Stars.

~ Brian Kavanagh, Author of the Belinda Lawrence Mystery Series

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The private investigation business is a little slow for Tom “Hawkman” Casey—not to mention a bit boring—so when he’s confronted with a mysterious family living in the hills of California just over the Oregon border, he’s driven to uncover their secrets. With the help of his wife, mystery novelist Jennifer Casey, they set out to make sure nothing nefarious is going on too close to home.

I loved how the author, Betty Sullivan La Pierre, turned something as ordinary as horses and a buckboard into something a little bit creepy as it traveled around during the late hours of night. Though it’s not unheard of for people to travel by horse and buggy in this century (the Amish come to mind), the author’s skill at creating an eerie atmosphere made it feel as if this horse and buckboard team was something out of time and not here for anything good.

Though I felt as if the title, Moonshine Murder, gave away some of the mystery in the beginning, once the murder came onboard the plot thickened and provided plenty of suspects with a plethora of motives and perfect opportunities to commit the act. There’s no way you’ll figure out who the guilty party is until the end.

Moonshine Murder flows along at a fast clip, causing you to hang on every word anxious to find out just how it’ll all come together. With the unique premise of murder, combined with moonshine-running in a modern setting, you can’t help but be intrigued by the plot. This is a nice addition to the Hawkman Series, and I look forward to finding out what kind of unique plot Ms. La Pierre comes up with in the next Hawkman mystery.

~ Margaret Marr, Author

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MOONSHINE MURDER is instantly engaging. For those who have been with Hawkman since his early days, there’s a treat in some reminiscing…back to times with Sam, their son, and back to cases Hawkman has worked on and solved. But for Hawkman fans and soon-go-be fans, this is a refreshing and exciting case to join Tom Casey on.

~ Reviewed by Kate Ayers