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May 2016
Book Review Laurinda Wallace, Washed Up Reviewed by Michael Frissore |
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Laurinda Wallace_Washed Up_
Southeastern Arizona author Laurinda Wallace left her day job in administration a couple of years ago to devote herself to writing full time, and her readers are all the better for it. And, even though Wallace's latest novella, Washed Up, is the fourth book in the Gracie Andersen Mysteries series, it's the perfect place for Southern Arizona readers to begin, as Book Four sees Gracie leaving behind temporarily her kennel business, and the craziness of Deer Park, New York, for a vacation in Cochise Country.
As Washed Up begins, Gracie has just arrived in Arizona to visit her boyfriend, Deputy Marc Stevens, who has been on a six-month job transfer. After Gracie and her Bed and Breakfast hostess Amanda Littlefield find the body of Manny Enriquez in Miner's Springs while exploring the Huachuca Mountains, the initial assumption is that it was a heart attack. Once investigators, including Deputy Stevens, do a little digging, the cause of death is determined to be murder. Soon Marc becomes completely preoccupied with the investigation, and this leaves poor, vacationing Gracie with few opportunities for romantic dinners and sightseeing.
From the very beginning, the reader knows this will be another interesting adventure for Gracie Andersen. Wallace writes:
"The half-submerged body in the mountain stream confirmed Gracie's misgivings about the timing of her vacation. She stumbled backward into Amanda Littlefield, turning away from the disfigured remains of the man sloshing against the bank of the stream that a few minutes ago had been touted as a pleasant rest stop."
When a dead body appears in paragraph one, particularly a disfigured and sloshing one, you tend to want to keep reading. And, in Washed Up, the reader is rewarded for it.
Suspects in the murder abound, from landscaper Hank Ramage to treasure hunters Alex and Justin, who are also staying at Amanda's B&B. Meanwhile, Gracie and Amanda can't seem to stop performing their own investigation, chasing every clue, which leads them to hidden caves and old mines. All the while, investigators are questioning nearly everyone at the B&B, the Drug Enforcement Administration keeps popping in because the treasure hunters might also be drug dealers, and a missing teenager could be the key to solving the murder.
As Washed Up begins, Gracie has just arrived in Arizona to visit her boyfriend, Deputy Marc Stevens, who has been on a six-month job transfer. After Gracie and her Bed and Breakfast hostess Amanda Littlefield find the body of Manny Enriquez in Miner's Springs while exploring the Huachuca Mountains, the initial assumption is that it was a heart attack. Once investigators, including Deputy Stevens, do a little digging, the cause of death is determined to be murder. Soon Marc becomes completely preoccupied with the investigation, and this leaves poor, vacationing Gracie with few opportunities for romantic dinners and sightseeing.
From the very beginning, the reader knows this will be another interesting adventure for Gracie Andersen. Wallace writes:
"The half-submerged body in the mountain stream confirmed Gracie's misgivings about the timing of her vacation. She stumbled backward into Amanda Littlefield, turning away from the disfigured remains of the man sloshing against the bank of the stream that a few minutes ago had been touted as a pleasant rest stop."
When a dead body appears in paragraph one, particularly a disfigured and sloshing one, you tend to want to keep reading. And, in Washed Up, the reader is rewarded for it.
Suspects in the murder abound, from landscaper Hank Ramage to treasure hunters Alex and Justin, who are also staying at Amanda's B&B. Meanwhile, Gracie and Amanda can't seem to stop performing their own investigation, chasing every clue, which leads them to hidden caves and old mines. All the while, investigators are questioning nearly everyone at the B&B, the Drug Enforcement Administration keeps popping in because the treasure hunters might also be drug dealers, and a missing teenager could be the key to solving the murder.
Laurinda Wallace
Southern Arizona readers will delight in Wallace's detailed and plentiful local references, from the prickly pears to Old Bisbee to the black-chinned and rufous hummingbirds. As an Arizona writer myself, I marveled at the fluency of description Wallace uses in presenting the magic and beauty of the Coronado National Forest.
Washed Up is the fourth in the Gracie Andersen Mysteries, following the previous Family Matters, By the Book, and Fly by Night, all highly-rated and oft-reviewed on Amazon. As I stated earlier, it would be perfect for Sonoran Desert readers to begin with Washed Up, become hooked, then go back and enjoy the first three books (All four are available on Amazon for free with Kindle Unlimited.). After checking out Wallace's web site and Amazon page, I might even check out her very first novel, the inspirational The Time Under Heaven.
Learn more about Laurinda Wallace at: http://www.laurindawallace.com/
About the reviewer:
Michael Frissore was born and raised in Massachusetts, and has lived in Tucson since 2007. He has a BA in English from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and has published dozens of stories, essays and poems online and in print. After publishing two poetry chapbooks and a short story collection, Mike is currently working on a series of novels set in the world of professional wrestling. Find out more about him at http://themikefrizz.blogspot.com, as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Washed Up is the fourth in the Gracie Andersen Mysteries, following the previous Family Matters, By the Book, and Fly by Night, all highly-rated and oft-reviewed on Amazon. As I stated earlier, it would be perfect for Sonoran Desert readers to begin with Washed Up, become hooked, then go back and enjoy the first three books (All four are available on Amazon for free with Kindle Unlimited.). After checking out Wallace's web site and Amazon page, I might even check out her very first novel, the inspirational The Time Under Heaven.
Learn more about Laurinda Wallace at: http://www.laurindawallace.com/
About the reviewer:
Michael Frissore was born and raised in Massachusetts, and has lived in Tucson since 2007. He has a BA in English from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and has published dozens of stories, essays and poems online and in print. After publishing two poetry chapbooks and a short story collection, Mike is currently working on a series of novels set in the world of professional wrestling. Find out more about him at http://themikefrizz.blogspot.com, as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, LinkedIn and Instagram.
