Series: Five Star First Edition Mystery | Publication Date: August 5, 2004
Donna Rose and the Slug War is a rich quilt of small-town Americana, a tale of backyard competition and long-lost secrets - some important enough to kill over. Retired schoolteacher Donna Galbreath isn't as patient with ignorant people as she once was, but she loves her community of Cedar Harbor, WA. Cedar Harbor is changing, though, and this is brought home when she finds the body of Lyle Corrigan, the water board chairman, while on an early morning clam-digging foray. After attacks are made on Lyle's widow and then on Donna, herself, she begins to investigate - along with her neighbor Cyrus, who rescues her and feels that henceforth, protecting Donna has become his duty. The solution requires sorting out the people who had reason to dislike Lyle. In the end, long-held secrets are brought to light and justice is served, along with a peace, of sorts.
Norma Tadlock Johnson lives in Burlington, Washington. (20041001)
"Outspoken, smart, witty, and caring, Donna makes a perfect sleuth. A small-town venue, deft characterization, and pleasant narration complete the cozy picture." --Library Journal (August 2004) (Library Journal )
"I was favorably impressed with many of the characters in this book. The author writes about both their good sides and their more dysfunctional traits, producing portrayals of people you feel you know. The solid plotting and the characterizations combine to make a very appealing story, with a fairly outlined, but still surprising, solution. This is the author?s debut mystery; I hope it becomes a series, as I would truly enjoy reading more about Donna." --Mystery Scene (October 2004) (Mystery Scene )
Norma Tadlock Johnson is a writer of novels, nonfiction and books for younger readers. She was born March 27, 1929, and graduated cum laude from Washington State College. She also pursued graduate studies at Mexico City College. She has lived in Washington, Oregon, California (with summers in Wyoming) and Mexico, and currently resides in Burlington, Washington.
Johnson first published a series of romances written with her daughter Janice Kay Johnson under the joint pseudonym Kay Kirby. Among those titles were SUMMERTIME LOVE, AUTUMN BEGINNING and WINTER INTERLUDE. Writing solo, Johnson then produced two romantic suspense novels, INCA GOLD, published in 1984, and TOO HOT TO HANDLE, published in 1985.
Johnson subsequently moved into juvenile books. BATS ON THE BEDSTEAD, published in 1987, describes an eleven-year-old boy named Ricky. When his family moves into an old house, Ricky has to fight a flock of evil bats. Though he tries to warn the family of the danger, they do not believe him, and Ricky must try to convince them bother of their peril and of his sanity. In 1987, Johnson also published WITCH HOUSE, another juvenile book.
In 2004, Johnson published DONNA ROSE AND THE SLUG WAR, inspired in part by Johnson's own experiences serving on a local water board and battling slugs in her garden. Donna Galbreath, a retired schoolteacher, discovers the body of the water board chair while she is out digging for clams. Soon the chair's widow is poisoned, and Donna herself becomes the victim of an attack. With the help of her neighbor Cyrus Bates, Donna sets out to find the murderer and solve the mystery. Rex E. Klett, writing in Library Journal, praised the book, noting that, "Outspoken, smart and caring, Donna makes a perfect sleuth."
Johnson's next project was a foray into wartime history entitled SOLDIERS OF THE MOUNTAIN: THE STORY OF THE 10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION OF WORLD WAR II, published in 2005. The book describes the experiences of the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division, which fought in the mountains of Italy. The men of the 10th were much celebrated in their day, and photographs of their preparations for fighting in the wintery Alps became well-known in the United States. The division's most famous battle ended in a defeat of the Germans at Mount Belvedere. Johnson, whose later husband Elvin won the purple heart and the bronze star while serving as a platoon leader in the 10th, interviewd a number of veterans for this book. She uses their stories and correspondence to flesh out her history of the 10th.
In 2009, Johnson published a sequel to DONNA ROSE AND THE SLUG WAR entitled DONNA ROSE AND THE ROOTS OF EVIL. The story begins with the death of incompetent police Chief Donniker, who collapses while dining at a banquet given in his honor. Further investigation reveals that he has been poisoned with monkshood, a flowing plant used to deadly effect in the first Donna Rose mystery. Donna's friend, officer Jake Santorini, is accused of the crime, so once again, it is up to Donna and her neighbor Cyrus to find the real killer.
A reviewer in Kirkus Reviews greeted this sequel with enthusiasm, commenting that "the burgeoning romance between Johnson's older sleuths is likely to make them even more popular with the cozy crowd." Judy Coon writes in Booklist, "It has been over four years since the first enjoyable Donna Rose mystery was published. The second one is equally entertaining; let's hope Johnson steps up her pace."
Norma Tadlock Johnson's next mystery HAZARDS OF THE GAME is due in August 2010.
This review is from: Five Star First Edition Mystery - Donna Rose and the Slug War (Hardcover)
In Cedar harbor, Washington, retired school teacher Donna Galbreath enjoys working her garden and clam digging at the nearby beach. Though a member of the water board, she detests the meetings and thinks her fellow associates are a collection of idiots especially her next door neighbor cranky Cyrus Bates. Donna's favorite pastime is slinging slugs from her property onto that owned by Cyrus.
While walking the beach early one morning, Donna finds the murdered body of Lyle Corrigan, owner of Corrigan Hardware and chair of the Water Board. She calls the police. Chief Billy Donniker, who was in Donna's sixth grade class and was an idiot than and now is a bigger moron, accompanied by Jake Santorini investigates the crime scene. Not long afterward, Donna without thinking of the consequences of her action interferes with the case by failing to inform the police that she recognized a newcomer as Lyle's daughter. Unable to stay out of the investigation, Donna and Cyrus go sleuthing, seeking who had an economic reason to commit murder, but they also finds a link to sexual abuse incidents from two decades ago. The slug war between the sleuths leads to new catapult equipment.
This small town cozy is a fun tale due to the wonderful cast that makes for a fine story. The who-done-it (official and amateur) sometimes takes a back seat to the antics of the residents of Cedar Harbor. Fans who appreciate a warm comfy murder mystery with limited action beyond slug droppings will enjoy the teaming of natural enemies Donna and Cyrus seeking to learn who killed Lyle.
Harriet Klausner
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Donna Rose and the Slug War is a fun light-hearted mystery read with a firebrand elderly sleuth. Donna Galbreath shakes up this small town with her attitude, the feud with her neighbor, and her probing questions. Donna Galbreath stumbles discovers a body of Lyle Corrigan while digging for clams. She is not able to trust the local police chief Billy Donniker. He wasn't that smart when she taught him in 6th grade and from the looks of his investigation, time and adulthood do not cast him in a better light. The danger escalates as a resident disappears, Lyle's wife is poisoned, and Donna Rose receives a mysterious package of lemon cookies. Who is behind the attack? All sorts of secrets are uncovered: the politics of the local waterboard has people pitted against one another, past family, business and social secrets are coming to light. If that wasn't enough for her to deal with, Donna's daughter shows up on her doorstep with a problem and her neighbor causes problems.
Donna Galbreath is a retired school teacher and she is one bad girl with an attitude despite her age! How can I describe this opposite of Jessica Fletcher? Donna is an agitator, a firebrand, cantankerous, an inciter, a mischief-maker (oh, the slug war!), one big nuisance, a smart aleck and a couple of other words too. This sleuth is not your stereotype of a nice elderly retired school teacher at all! This sleuth is a reader's delight.
The title alone draws readers to this mystery. In the beginning, readers will not believe this woman and want to continue reading just to see what crazy thing she will do next. As the mystery develops, readers will be drawn to her character more and more. Donna's character develops during the story and becomes more multi-dimensional but still keeps her spunk. Donna's feud with neighbor Cyrus makes this an enjoyable mystery read. Through him, the reader discovers her firebrand, eccentric character. Through him, the reader also sees a slightly different side of her as the two are drawn together to solve the mystery. Donna's character grows on the reader increasingly as Donna and Cyrus challenge each other. As a teacher, Donna has some insights into adults she taught that makes this mystery an interesting read to ponder afterwards. How well do teachers really know their students --- then and when they turn into adults?
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While digging for clams, Donna Galbreath stumbles across the body of Lyle Corrigan. He had plenty of enemies that wanted to kill him and Donna doesn't trust the abilities of local police chief Billy Donniker to solve the case so she starts investigating the murder herself. Add in a second murder and a couple of attempted, near fatal poisonings and Donna has her hands full. She believes the deaths may have links to the past, but when she gets too close to the truth, she has to be careful or she may become a victim herself.
"Donna Rose and the Slug War" is an enjoyable cozy mystery. The book is written in the first person and Donna Rose is a great, if somewhat acerbic heroine. She says exactly what is on her mind and doesn't care if people like what she has to say. Still, she is likable, especially in her relationship with her daughter Roberta who is separated from her husband. Her relationship with next door neighbor Cyrus Bates makes for some of the funniest moments in the book (including the slug war of the title) and author Norma Tadlock Johnson deserves a lot of credit for letting readers decide for themselves whether or not Donna Rose dislikes Cyrus as much as she says she does. Johnson also does a good job in depicting the other characters in the novel and depicting small town life. The mystery itself is well written and the unmasking of the murderer will not doubt sadden readers when the motive is revealed.
"Donna Rose and the Slug War" is nicely done.
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