Customer Reviews

Anacacho (Allie Armington Mysteries)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Well, its all there-the murder that sounds of mystery down to its Texas drawl. Ms. Gaylord doesn't miss an occasion to keep our attention to the plot's twists and turns, detached as hell, as she spins, spoofs and twangs her way through enough local color to rival any travel book describing the joys of ranch experience, if only for a few days (it would appear that longer would lead any of us to murderous thoughts). A not to miss treat with a cactus sting.

more plot twists, backstabbing and hidden agendas than sorority rush at the University of Texas...J.R. Ewing could only manage a "bit part" with this group...colorful characters with black hats and white (some both)...miles and miles of Texas (and Mexico)...the author did her homework about age old Texas traditions (from pidgeon shoots and margeritas to details of the Sunday evening South Texas menu)...the story line really takes off with the outcome of some characters in question until the last couple of pages. Didn't take long to finish this one -

I've read 2 of Louise Gaylord's Allie Armington mysteries (so far!) and
really enjoy her characters and plot twists and turns. Other mysteries
I've read seem predictable, almost too "coincidental", but I find with
Gaylord's style, when you expect "predictability", you find intrigue,
"coincidence" is instead exciting and relevant.

I am looking forward to reading more from Louise Gaylord!

The joys of finding a new author that you enjoy! I was contacted by Little Moose Press asking if I'd like to review a book by Louise Gaylord. They also offered to send the first two novels in the series so I could get up to speed. That's how I found myself carting Anacacho: An Allie Armington Mystery down to Orlando on vacation. I wasn't expecting much more than some mild entertainment, but I quickly got hooked on the characters and story. Needless to say, her next two novels moved up on my "next to read" list. Gaylord is a talented writer who has done a very nice job with Anacacho.

Allie Armington is an assistant district attorney in Texas who is getting rather frustrated with her job of working with grand juries. Her upstairs neighbor (and hopeful lover) Duncan encourages her to join a private firm, which works out very well for her. But her peaceful, comfortable existence suffers a setback when she gets a call from an old college roommate by the name of Reena Carpenter. Reena is a beautiful woman who stole Allie's fiancee Paul away from her. She also dumped the guy who is now the husband of their third roommate, Susie Baxter. Allie's not sure what or why Reena wants to get together for lunch, but decides to bury her pain and go through with it. Reena's husband has made a fortune in oil, and also seems to be seeing someone else on the side. Reena is convinced that he's about to divorce her and leave her penniless. She begs and pleads for Allie to come visit her at the Anacacho ranch and help her work things out. Allie's not sure she wants to be in close proximity to her ex-fiancee, and *really* regrets the idea when he starts confessing his true love for her and tries to make a move on her. Allie feels like Reena is setting her up for something, but doesn't get a chance to find out exactly what it is as Reena is found dead at the same hideaway where Paul tried to seduce Allie. The physical clues to the killing are non-existent, but there's no lack of suspects... Paul, Susie and her husband (who work for Paul and have a dispute over the land), or some rather unsavory characters who help manage the ranch (but who have rather murky backgrounds).

When I first started reading Anacacho, I thought it was going to be an OK read. But within about 50 pages, I realized that I was going to end up a bit sleep-deprived the next day. Allie's character is a lot of fun. She's got her flaws like everyone else, but she's willing to take risks to uncover truth and fulfill commitments to her friends. I'm really fortunate that the publisher sent the first two novels in the series, as I now have a solid background as to what makes Allie tick. I'm looking forward to the next two in the series, and I'll be keeping an eye open for any additional installments after that.

After seven years of silence, Houston attorney Alice "Allie" Armington is briefly reunited with college chums Reena and Paul Carpenter at their plush Anacacho oil and cattle ranch near Laredo, Texas. Allie is startled first by Reena's sudden phone call, then by her continuous alcohol intake, and later by her declaration that the marriage is headed for divorce -- a dream almost devoutly to be wished by Allie, who Paul had originally dumped for Reena. But the young woman puts the whole situation out of her mind and goes back home, albeit a tad puzzled. Several months later, Allie is called back to Anacacho -- this time to help Paul deal with Reena's murder. Soon the friends find themselves pulled into the vortex of a borderland drug cartel. When Allie awakes in a hospital bed, all she knows is that she's sustained a severe concussion and a few months' worth of memory loss. What really happened down in Laredo? Can Allie be coaxed to remember events that might put her own life in peril? And who can she really trust under these circumstances, anyway? Is that sexy Laredo sheriff, Bill Cotton, a good guy or a bad guy?

Gaylord takes some time to set up the premise and the backstory; but once the plot is well underway, the book is action-packed. Eventually the reader is caught in a web so intricate and tightly wound that it's difficult to see any way out, let alone the "right" one. Knowing (now) that Allie returns for more adventures in subsequent books is small reassurance that she'll survive the turn of events of this one. Mystery lovers should seek this one out, especially if they're familiar with contemporary Texas culture.

The Allie Armington Mystery Series has become a new favorite of mine! I absolutely loved this series. And this first book, Anachacho, grabbed me from the very first paragraph, which is unusual for me.

The phone rings and suddenly 7 years fade away. The voice at the end of the line belongs to Reena Carpenter, ex-best friend of Allie Armington. Reena Carpenter: Gorgeous Farah Fawcett look-alike who, years before, trapped Allie's boyfriend into marrying her instead.

Reena has turned to Allie, an Assistant D.A. for Harris County, Texas, for help. Reena invites her to return with her by jet to her husband's family home -Anacacho Ranch. But how can Allie help someone who has betrayed her trust in so many ways? And how will she feel once she sees her former boyfriend who is now the husband of Reena? (Now I know that this probably sounds like a "soap opera.") It isn't. Instead you'll find a fast-paced mystery that will leave you guessing until the very end. You just NEVER see it coming!

Anachacho is filled with murder and anticipation that compels you to turn each page quickly. It transports the reader into the drug cartel's world of wealth and suspicion.

I also loved the descriptive characterizations of Louise Gaylord: Not "aviator sunglasses," but "fly-boy sunglasses!" What a difference!

But most of all, Ms. Gaylord makes Allie Armington totally come to life. This is not a "romantic mystery," - although certainly it has romance. However, it is so much more than the usual books that are full of fluff. It totally grabs you and only releases you once the last page is turned. And even then, I'm not sure that it does release the reader. Because I found myself instantly reaching for the next book in the series - Xs and very grateful that there was another book. Great writing!

Reviewed by Ana M. Rubio for Reader Views (10/06)

This book is a great mystery story, from beginning to end. Louise Gaylord is very successful at keeping you guessing who is the bad guy, but when you think you got it all figured out, comes another twist to the story, and keeps you interested and anxious to finish reading the book to see what the outcome is.

Louise Gaylord's writing is amazing; the references that she makes in the book about the world of drug trafficking, makes you think this is a real story. "About the time I split with Reena last summer. She was real mad and said she'd tell Susie about us, but I threatened to tell Paul she was filching money out of the ranch account and that shut her up. She's been taking funds ever since she offered to do the books." "Paul let her handle the books? What's with the CPA?" "Dell gives a rueful laugh. C'mon, Allie. The CPA's a man. You know Reena and men." "How could I forget? Maybe Reena was the one involved with the trafficking. She seemed very friendly with that cowboy when I was here in January."

Most of the characters in the story met in college and had lost contact with each other, reconnecting later in life. "Allie," who is the main character in the story, didn't expect the big adventure she was about to get involved in when she accepted an invitation from her former roommate to spend a few days at the Anacacho. Everything on the surface looks perfect -- a rich friend living the big life with her handsome oil field owner husband.

"Anacacho" is a book for mystery readers that love to be guessing the ending of a story. I really thought that I had it all resolved, but before I knew it, another twist kept me guessing again. Even the end is a mystery. I can't say there is a particular part of the story I like best, because all of it got my attention, and since the end is left hanging, I'm looking forward to Louise Gaylord's next "Allie Armington's Mystery" I really enjoyed this book.

Received book free of charge

A friend suggested this title to me and I actually had some free time this summer for some reading. I loved this book! The characters, the plot and the fast paced action kept me coming back for more. I understand that Ms. Gaylord is writing more books featuring the main character and I for one will be in line ready to purchase a copy!

An excellent mystery!

I took this book on my vacation and I could not put it down! I read it on the airplane and at the beach . I love mysteries and read them all the time, but this one was really a cut above.

Allie Armington is a great character and I was holding on to make sure that nothing "bad" happened to her...there are so many turns in the plot I was never sure what was going to happen next.

Ms Gaylord, please write more books with Allie, I am hooked!

If you like Sue Grafton, you will love Louise Gaylord