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1 of 1 copy available
On the eve of the heated presidential election of 1892, Miss Hattie Davish arrives in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, a scenic resort town where those without the scent of whiskey on their breath have the plight of temperance on their tongues. Summoned for her services as a private secretary, Hattie is looking forward to exploring the hills, indulging her penchant for botany—and getting to know the town's handsome doctor. But it's hard to get her job done with her employer nowhere to be found. . .
An army of unassuming women wielding hatchets have descended on the quiet Ozark village, destroying every saloon in their path—and leaving more than a few enemies in their wake. So when their beloved leader, Mother Trevelyan, is murdered, it's easy to point fingers. Now that she's working for a dead woman, Hattie turns to her trusty typewriter to get to the truth. And as she follows a trail of cryptic death threats, she'll come face to face with a killer far more dangerous than the Demon Rum. . .
"A wonderful read from a welcome addition to the genre. This one shouldn't be missed—it has it all!" —Emily Brightwell
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Creators
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Series
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Publisher
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Release date
October 24, 2011 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9780758279958
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9780758279958
- File size: 638 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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August 13, 2012
Set in 1892, Loan-Wilsey’s delightful debut introduces Hattie Davish, who has left Kansas City, Mo., for the Ozark town of Eureka Springs, Ark., to take a temporary secretarial position with Edwina Trevelyan, a woman she’s never met and knows little about. Typewriter in hand, Hattie arrives to find a riot in progress, courtesy of the local American Women’s Temperance Coalition, and the rioters’ leader, who happens to be her new employer, being carted off to jail. Further belying the surrounding hot springs’ much touted healthiness, Edwina later turns up dead and stuffed into her steamer trunk. Offended to be called “only a typewriter,” Hattie decides to track down the killer herself. Suspects include Edwina’s bad-tempered AWTC rival, Cordelia Anglewood; friendly Josephine Piers, who claims she’s Edwina’s new secretary; and any number of disgruntled imbibers. Cozy fans will eagerly await Hattie’s next adventure. Agent: John Talbot, the John Talbot Agency. -
October 1, 2012
It's quite a conundrum when you travel to a new job and your employer doesn't show up to meet you. That's the situation Hattie Davish, a traveling secretary, faces when she arrives in Eureka Springs, AR, having been hired by Mother Trevelyan, the firebrand leader of the American Women's Temperance Coalition (AWTC). Alas, Mrs. Trevelyan angered someone enough that she has ended up dead, stuffed in a trunk. Hattie efficiently partners up with two senior lady friends and a handsome young doctor, and they endeavor to find the killer. Hattie's middle-of-the-night forays ratchet up the danger when the killer makes the next move. VERDICT This historical cozy debut showcases the author's superb research. Readers will be fascinated by the volatility within the 1890s women's temperance movement and by the Victorian obsession with healing spas. The main character needs more fleshing out and more believable sleuthing techniques, but this is a warm beginning. Consider partnering with Ann Parker or Rhys Bowen historicals. Or go further back and consider Mignon Eberhart, who also had a typist protagonist.
Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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