"slice of small town America during the World War II years"
In a small Oklahoma town during the summer of 1949 Gretchen
Gilman left her innocence behind and saw the world as it
actually was. She keeps busy working in her grandmother's
cafe in the early mornings before rushing to work as a
reporter for the local paper the Gazette. After the police left Faye Tatum's place following a phoned-
in
complaint, Gretchen and her friend Barb, Faye's
daughter, find Faye dead, the victim of strangulation.
Faye's husband Clyde is nowhere to be found and popular
opinion says that he killed her in a jealous rage after he
found out she went to the local bar to dance while he was
being prepared to be shipped out. Many people believe Faye
deserved what she got because she was an artist who stepped
out on her husband. Gretchen's grandmother is hiding Clyde
who intends to find out who killed his wife. Tragedy
begets death and for years after, Gretchen tries to put the
events of that summer behind her until a letter from
someone in her past stirs up all the ugly memories. This story is told from Gretchen's perspective years after
the fact and readers feel her pain as she remembers being
ostracized by those she thought were friends because she
wrote about Faye in the newspaper in a favorable light.
This is more than just a murder mystery. It is a slice of
small town America during the World War II years. Carolyn
Hart has written a very rich and colorful atmospheric
novel, one that captures the essence of a bygone era. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted August 31, 2003
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