Box Sets

 Now Available:

Box Sets, of four books each.

Box Set One:

Why Are You Weeping, Sister?

The House that Jack Built

That Was Before I Met You

Oh Mr. Porter

Box Set Two

Goodbye Muirsheen Durkin

Everybody Two-Step

There's a Girl in the Heart of Maryland

After The Ball

Box Set Three

Somewhere in France There's a Lily

Come to the Church in the Wildwood

When the Roll is Called Up Yonder

Johnny Has Gone For a Soldier

Box Set Four

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Father Dear Father Come Home

Alcoholic Blues

At the Devil's Ball

Box Set Five

St. Louis Woman

Sweet Mystery of Life

Power in the Blood

Oh Danny Boy

More to Come

 as new books are released

You can see the series here

Power in the Blood (book 19)

 

Power in the Blood

Book 19 of Monument City Mysteries

Families. It's a shame we don't get to pick who are in them. Some family members are wonderful. Others aren't worth the powder to blow their noses.

Dylan and Rhys Shay have moved their families to Tennessee, where Dylan is the new chief of police. They had thought there would be far less crime in a rural town than they had to deal with in Baltimore. They are soon to learn that crime in the country is different only because there are fewer people. Dead bodies begin turning up in the fairgrounds.

Marcel Duprey and his little family are doing quite well with their music school. Parents are clamoring for their children to be admitted. Everything is going along swimmingly until he receives the letter that brings his past screaming into their lives, and maybe not for the better.

Sweet Mystery of Life (Book 18)

 

1922: Eugenics has taken hold. A woman of color gives birth to a biracial baby who is a light complexioned blond cherub. She is told the child was stillborn. She and her husband refuse to accept that.

Meanwhile, evil is afoot in Baltimore City. Someone is kidnapping little girls. When they are found, they have been raped beaten and sometimes killed. The police feel as if they are running in circles.

Sweet Mystery of Life

Review for Sweet Mystery of Life:

This is a dark book, yet sometimes that's exactly what we need to break the monotony of reading about sunshine and flowers. Set in 1922, the world is vivid and lends the narrative a special atmosphere, and the quality of prose supports an already-interesting setting. While the story contains a lot of horrible beats, it's engaging and well-written, and the characters are candid and realistic, adding to the narrative's overall gloomy feeling.

 

St. Louis Woman (Book 17)

 

A neighborhood grocery store has been firebombed and the owner killed. Some woman is going around town selling "insurance" so the same thing doesn't happen to them.

Baltimore City was really living up to its name of "Mob Town" in 1921. Will the police be able to stop the St. Louis Woman? And is she the only guilty party?

Saint Louis Woman

Review for St. Louis Woman:

I found this book to be incredibly engaging and thought-provoking. It is a captivating story that is based on real events from a specific era and place. I appreciate how the author has taken inspiration from history to create a compelling narrative.

I would like to mention that while reading this book, it is important to be aware that there may be content that could be triggering for some readers. The author has handled sensitive subjects with care and authenticity, but it is advisable to approach the book with caution if you are sensitive to certain topics.

Overall, I highly recommend this book for its historical accuracy and the way it sheds light on significant events. It is a powerful and impactful read that will leave a lasting impression.

 

At The Devil's Ball (Book 16)

 

A minister has been murdered along with his paramour, their bodies found in the basement of church's residence. The preacher's wife is missing.

Gabrielle Walsh, a former traveling evangelist, knew both the preacher and his wife. A year after the man's demise and the woman's disappearance, a "man" surfaces in a neighboring community operating a "spiritualist camp", where "he" offers to contact dead loved ones. Gabby knows the medium is the missing wife.

Gabby agrees to assist the police by going undercover to try and apprehend a murderess.

At The Devil's Ball 

Review for At The Devil's Ball

In this book, a minister and his lover are found dead, and the preacher's wife is missing. Gabrielle a former evangelist, joins the hunt for the murderer, who turns out to be operating a spiritualist camp. What's unique? It portrays post-WWI America realistically and offers real characters. The author's favorite part is when Gabby explains how mediums manipulate people for money. This book is part of the Monument City Mysteries and focuses on a crooked medium, not witchcraft. It's well-written, full of twists, and entertaining, with great characters. You'll love the humor, descriptions, and historical accuracy. Fans of the Counterfeit Lady Series, Gaslight Mystery Series, and more will enjoy it.

 

Alcoholic Blues (Book 15)

 

 

Prohibition is just getting started. Baltimore City Police are told to stand down from any enforcement involving the Volstead Act, as the Governor has claimed his state would be "just as wet as ever".

Gabrielle Lane Pennington is out of jail, and ready for a new challenge. Joshua McAleese, the brother of her former associate, has taken over Mickey's operation. He presses Gabby into working with him in order to open a nightclub. Everything is going along swimmingly, the club is making more money than anyone anticipated. Then Gabby made the mistake of asking for more money.

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Alcoholic Blues

Review for Alcoholic Blues

"Alcoholic Blues" is an engaging read set in Prohibition-era Baltimore. The story is full of action, interesting twists, and well-drawn characters. Millie, the central character, is particularly endearing. The book captures small but significant details like the introduction of electric refrigerators, adding to the authenticity of the setting.

Father Dear Father Come Home (Book 14)

 

February, 1920. Prohibition went into effect a month before. Prohibition agents are political hacks, most having bought their positions, and more apt to make more in graft from the bootleggers than from their salaries.

At the same time, the Governor of the State of Maryland declared his state would remain as "wet as ever". Police were told to stand down on all matters regarding enforcement of the Volstead Act or the 18th Amendment.

Gabby Lane Pennington is no longer running a patent medicine mail order business. Now she has a full blown distillery, making not just Pennington's Tonic, but Maryland Rye Whiskey. They claim the whiskey is being sold only to pharmacies for prescription distribution. No one told the speakeasies who pull up every Sunday to take delivery on cases of the stuff.

Newly minted police officer Rhys Shay is sent into the factory undercover. Not to investigate the making of illegal liquor, but the death of Barnaby Fogg, Gabby's former bed partner and partner in crime.

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Father Dear Father Come Home

Review for Father Dear Father Come Home:

I like the author's mix of history and fiction in this book. She transports us into the Prohibition era. The world of bootlegging, corrupt politics, and murder is part of the interesting and complex plot that kept me glued to the book. Do not miss the "Notes on the book" at the end, where the author provides links to music and some additional historical notes that will enhance your appreciation of the times.