"An insightful historical mystery"
In 1942 Pat Gunn needs money to survive the rest of what he
expects to be a short war. He does what many people living
in his community of Wisdom, New Mexico have done, torched
his house for the insurance. Pat will live in the movie
theater he owns that is idle because the town is dying due
to government policy of closing the nearby gold mines. Fire Chief and Marshal Ron Bowdrie decides to make an
example of Pat. He asks the state to send an arson
detective to investigate the latest fire. However, someone
kills visitor Frank Keller. Ron believes Pat is the
culprit and plans to have him locked away. Now Pat must
prove his innocence with much of the remaining thirty
residents on his side, but especially Pearl, madam of the
Happy Eagle brothel and the woman whom he loves. SURVIVING WISDOM is an insightful historical mystery with
an emphasis on the impact of federal policy on a small New
Mexico town and its residents. The period piece remains
timely in today's world, but also overpowers a clever who-
done-it because of the depth of detail that easily flows as
part of the plot and the genuinely realistic cast.
Historical readers will fully appreciate this superb look
at small town USA during the early American entry into WW
II. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted June 29, 2003
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