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A Life for a Life: A Mystery Novel (Appalachian Mountain Mysteries Book 1) Kindle Edition
“Five Stars! The tale immediately drew me in, into the town, into the intriguing mystery, and into the people. A real treat to read." ~Deb, Amazon Hall of Fame Top 100 Reviewer
Laurel Falls, N.C., 1985: I was done with being a crime reporter in Washington, D.C., tired of all the violence. So I packed up and moved to the small town of Laurel Falls, N.C. It looked like heaven to me—ancient mountains brimming with tall trees and songbirds, peace and quiet. Until I found the body.
The sheriff took the easy path, calling it a suicide. No way. I’d found that young woman, and I just knew she hadn’t taken her own life. I’d spent my whole career searching for the truth, and I wasn’t about to stop now. Trouble was, without my usual sources, how much of a murder investigation could I pull off?
But a special kid lived next door. Abit Bradshaw, a teenager struggling to find his rightful place in the world. Hey, I knew all about that. I’d never fitted in either, but eventually I’d found something I was good at. I figured he just needed a chance too.
And he got one when we teamed up to solve that crime. Along the way, we sure met some interesting characters—both bad and good. We had a plan, and we worked it hard to find that killer before we became the next victims.
Looking back, I should’ve known plans rarely pan out the way you think. ~Della Kincaid
You'll enjoy this suspenseful story because who doesn't dream of second chances?
If you love Louise Penny, Richard Osman, and Fern Michaels, you're sure to enjoy the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series.
Get it now—for the rich natural setting, colorful characters, and suspenseful investigations.
A Life for a Life is the first novel in the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series by award-winning author Lynda McDaniel.
Interview with Lynda McDaniel
Q: What makes the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries Series so special?
A: In addition to the suspense of a good mystery, each book includes people and stories from the years I spent on my "back to the land" farm in Appalachia. You'll meet a cantankerous laundromat owner who was just as weird as she's portrayed, a gentle giant of a beekeeper with an abiding love for his family, and Cleva Hall, who's based on a woman who taught me how to put food by. But especially Abit Bradshaw, one of the amateur sleuths along with Della Kincaid, a former journalist. Abit started in a supporting role, but I listened to my readers and gave him a starring role in the rest of the series. This book and the next two—The Roads to Damascus and Welcome the Little Children—are coming-of-age stories for Abit.
Q: Why should readers give these books a try?
A: Readers who prefer suspense without over-the-top violence will enjoy this series. I write in the British style, where the dastardly deed is done off stage; (similar in that way to cozy mysteries). I don't like mounting body bags, but I do enjoy the chase for justice. In addition to the crimes, readers will find vivid mountain settings, colorful characters, sharp wit, good food, and a touch of romance.
Q: In what order were the books written?
A:
A Life for a Life
The Roads to Damascus
Welcome the Little Children
Murder Ballad Blues
Deep in the Forest
Up the Creek
Unwrapped
Waiting for You (free prequel)
What readers are saying:
"REMINDS ME OF To Kill a Mockingbird. You are a treasure of a writer." ~J. M. Grayson
"THIS WAS MY FIRST BOOK BY LYNDA McDANIEL, WON'T BE MY LAST. Love a book that can hold my interest to the point I don't want it to end." ~M. Ballard
"McDANIEL DELIVERS A PAIR OF UNFORGETTABLE CRIME-SOLVING CHARACTERS. She lured me into her story and kept me there." ~Virginia McCullough, award-winning author of Amber Light.
- Reading age12 - 18 years
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateAugust 15, 2016
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Next 3 for you in this series
$7.98 -
Next 5 for you in this series
$11.97 -
All 7 for you in this series
$19.95
- The Roads to Damascus: A Mystery Novel (Appalachian Mountain Mysteries Book 2)2Kindle Edition$3.99$3.99
- Welcome the Little Children: A Mystery Novel (Appalachian Mountain Mysteries Book 3)3Kindle Edition$3.99$3.99
- Murder Ballad Blues: A Mystery Novel (Appalachian Mountain Mysteries Book 4)4Kindle Edition$0.00$0.00
- Deep in the Forest: A Mystery Novel (Appalachian Mountain Mysteries Book 5)5Kindle Edition$3.99$3.99
- Unwrapped: An Appalachian Mountain Christmas Mystery (Appalachian Mountain Mysteries Book 7)7Kindle Edition$3.99$3.99
From the Publisher
Lynda McDaniel, Mystery Author
The Appalachian Mountain Mysteries in Order
Each of the novels in the series is a standalone. The books are written in a sequential order that currently spans more than thirty years.
- A Life for a Life
- The Roads to Damascus
- Welcome the Little Children
- Murder Ballad Blues
- Deep in the Forest
- Up the Creek
- Unwrapped
Lynda McDaniel
Appalachian Mountain Mysteries
Everything about my life changed when I moved to the N.C. mountains. Now decades later, I realize the things I value most today—a long writing career, hikes in nature, gardening, old-timey and bluegrass music—took root while I lived on my small farm. I made mistakes by the wheelbarrow load, but I wouldn’t take anything for those experiences. My Appalachian Mountain Mysteries pay homage to the people of Appalachia who taught me so much.
Fan favorites in the series include:
- Intriguing mysteries without over-the-top violence
- Lovable & well-drawn characters
- Natural setting & strong sense of place
- Mountain culture & food
- Bluegrass music & murder ballads
Editorial Reviews
Review
"THE MOST SATISFYING MYSTERY I've read in ages." ~Joan Nienhuis, Top 1% of Reviewers on Goodreads
"FIVE STARS! Lynda McDaniel has that wonderfully appealing way of weaving a story, much in the manner of Fannie Flagg. The tale immediately drew me in." ~Deb, Amazon Hall of Fame Top 100 Reviewer
"GREAT !! BOOK Lynda McDaniel can write. This is one fine read. READ THIS ONE." ~Wooley, Amazon Vine Voice Reviewer
"THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE and intriguing with descriptive powers and beautiful mountain scenery. Intense family and friend dynamics with character vulnerabilities and complex relationships that steal the reader's heart and make this mystery a must-read." ~Pam Franklin, international best-selling author
"THE STORY HAS A WONDERFUL BALANCE OF DRAMA, MYSTERY, AND SUSPENSE that easily left me wanting more. What made the story that much more appealing is that it is more than a just a cozy mystery, as the author interweaves Della's personal journey of self-discovery and sense of community that she finds along the way in the small Appalachian town." ~Kathleen Higgins-Anderson, Jersey Girl Book Reviews
"MARVELOUS READ! A compelling story told through the eyes and voice of two remarkable narrators [who] possess the same hopes and dreams for a new life. They describe their home life in such great detail that you feel like you have been transported to a small mountain town and are fortunate enough to catch a stunning glimpse into living and working in the deep woods." ~Yvette Klobuchar, bestselling author of Brides Unveiled
"MCDANIEL'S MYSTERY NOVEL DELIVERS A PAIR OF UNFORGETTABLE CRIME-SOLVING CHARACTERS. Using her keen knowledge of the charm (and less than charming features) of life in the North Carolina mountains, she lured me into her story and kept me there. I hope Della, Abit, and the gang will be back!" ~Virginia McCullough, award-winning author of Amber Light
"WHAT A DELIGHTFUL DISCOVERY! Grabbed me from the first page. Pick up this novel; I dare you to put it down." ~Irene Willis, award-winning author of Reminder
From the Author
After all, we're all busy these days, and I want to deliver value--whether that's a gripping mystery filled with memorable characters or books on writing that give you the tools to write your own fiction and nonfiction. Both make me happy.
See for yourself. Visit me at LyndaMcDanielBooks.com and get a free copy of the prequel, Waiting for You, that pulls back the curtain on Abit's and Della's lives before they met in Laurel Falls, N.C.
I got my start as a writer in the most unlikely place--a town of 200 people in the mountains of North Carolina. But living there changed my life in so many positive ways. Decades later, I realized that everything I value today, I was introduced to there. My Appalachian Mountain Mysteries--A Life for a Life, The Roads to Damascus, Welcome the Little Children, Murder Ballad Blues, Deep in the Forest--pay homage to the people of Appalachia who taught me so much.
Over the years, I've written more than 1,200 articles for major magazines, hundreds of newsletters and blogs. I'm proudest of the 18 books I've written. My nonfiction books include Words at Work, How Not to Sound Stupid When You Write, and How to Write Stories that Sell--all part of my Write Faster Series. Since I moved to California 10 years ago, I've also enjoyed coaching clients who want to write their own books.
To keep up to date with Abit, Della, and the gang (and receive your free copy of Waiting for You), head over to LyndaMcDanielBooks.com. No spam, no pestering, just a free novella, special offers, and updates.
From the Inside Flap
Chapter One
I heard my dog, Jake, whimpering as I sank into the couch. I'd closed him in the bedroom while the sheriff and his gang of four were in my apartment. Jake kept bringing toys over for them to throw, and I could see how irritated they were getting. I didn't want to give them reason to be even more unpleasant about what had happened earlier in the day.
"Hi there, boy," I said as I opened the door. "Sorry abou tthat, buddy." He sprang from the room and grabbed his stuffed rabbit. I scratched his ears and threw the toy, then reclaimed the couch. "Why didn't we stay in today, like I wanted?"
That morning, I'd thought about skipping our usual hike. It was my only day off, and I wanted to read last Sunday's Washington Post. (I was always a week behind since I had to have the papers mailed to me.) But Jake sat by the door and whined softly, and I sensed how cooped up he'd been with all the early spring rains.
Besides, those walks did me more good than Jake. When I first moved to Laurel Falls, the natural world frightened me. Growing up in Washington, D.C. hadn't prepared me for that kind of wild. But gradually, I got more comfortable and started to recognize some of the birds and trees. And wildflowers. Something about their delicate beauty made the woods more welcoming. Trilliums, pink lady's slippers, and fringed phacelia beckoned, encouraging me to venture deeper.
Of course, it didn't help that my neighbors and customers carried on about the perils of taking long hikes by myself. "You could be murdered," they cried. "At the very least you could be raped," warned Mildred Bradshaw, normally a quiet, prim woman. "And what about perverts?" she'd add, exasperated that I wasn't listening to her.
Sometimes Mildred's chant "You're so alone out there" nagged at me in a reactive loop as Jake and I walked in the woods. But that was one of the reasons I'd moved to North Carolina. I wanted to be alone. I longed to get away from deadlines and noise and people. And memories. Besides, I'd argue with myself, hadn't I lived safely in D.C. for years? I'd walked dark streets, sat face-to-face with felons, been robbed at gunpoint, but I still went out whenever I wanted, at least before midnight. You couldn't live there and worry too much about crime, be it violent, white-collar, or political; that city would grind to a halt if people thought that way.
As Jake and I wound our way, the bright green tree buds and wildflowers soothed my dark thoughts. I breathed in that intoxicating smell of spring: not one thing in particular, but a mix of fragrances floating on soft breezes, signaling winter's retreat. The birds were louder too, chittering and chattering in the warmer temperatures. I was lost in my reverie when Jake stopped so fast I almost tripped over him. He stood still, ears alert.
"What is it, boy?" He looked up at me, then resumed his exploration of rotten squirrels and decaying stumps.
I didn't just love that dog, I admired him. He was unafraidof his surroundings, plowing through tall fields of hay or dense forests without any idea where he was headed, not the least bit perturbed by bugs flying into his eyes or seeds up his nose. He'd just sneeze and keep going.
We walked a while longer and came to a favorite lunch spot.I nestled against a broad beech tree, its smooth bark gentler against my back than the alligator bark of red oak or locust. Jake fixated on a line of ants carrying off remnants from a picnic earlier that day, rooting under leaves and exploring new smells since his last visit. But mostly he slept. He found a sunspot and made a nest thick with leaves, turning round and round until everything was just right.
Jake came to live with me a year and a half ago when a neighbor committed suicide, a few months before I moved south. We both struggled at first, but when we settled here, the past for him seemed forgotten. Sure, he still ran in circles when I brushed against his old leash hanging in the coat closet, but otherwise, he was officially a mountain dog. I was the one still working on leaving the past behind.
From the Back Cover
About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : B01KGVUREG
- Publisher : Lynda McDaniel Books (August 15, 2016)
- Publication date : August 15, 2016
- Language : English
- File size : 2313 KB
- Simultaneous device usage : Unlimited
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
- Print length : 347 pages
- Page numbers source ISBN : 0997780800
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,979 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #11 in Christian Suspense
- #15 in Mystery Series
- #19 in Cozy Crafts & Hobbies Mystery
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
I love writing page-turners—both fiction and nonfiction. And I love coaching others to do the same, living into their dreams of writing books.
I got my start as a writer in the most unlikely place—a town of 200 people in the mountains of North Carolina. But living there changed my life in so many positive ways. My Appalachian Mountain Mysteries--"A Life for a Life," "The Roads to Damascus," "Welcome the Little Children," "Murder Ballad Blues," "Deep in the Forest," "Up the Creek," and "Unwrapped"--pay homage to the people of Appalachia who taught me so much. And to Mollie the Wonder Dog, who plays a role in every book starting with "The Roads to Damascus" (called Millie in that book).
To read more stories from the mountains and to keep up to date with Abit, Della, and the gang (plus receive a free novelette, "Waiting for You," that pulls back the curtain on Abit's and Della's lives before they met in Laurel Falls), just head over to my website, Lynda McDaniel Books.
Over the years, I've written more than 1,200 articles for major magazines and newspapers. I'm proudest of the 21 books I’ve written. My nonfiction books include my Write Faster Series. "Words at Work," which I wrote straight from my heart, is a much-needed response to all the questions and concerns people have about writing today. (It won top honors from the National Best Books Awards.) "How Not to Sound Stupid When You Write" and "How to Write Stories that Sell" complete the series.
I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, but I've lived all over this country—from the Midwest to the Deep South to Appalachia to the Mid-Atlantic to the Pacific Northwest. Whew! I finally settled by the sea in Eureka, California, a place that reflects the values I learned while living in the mountains of North Carolina, all those years ago.
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I had trouble falling asleep, so I started reading on my Kindle. The story drew me in and I kept swiping the pages on my Kindle late into the night.
There are many facets to the story and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series!