Grave Review: A Jubilee Showboat Mystery (Five Star First Edition Mystery) [Hardcover]

Cynthia Thomason (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 2005

In the second of the Jubilee Showboat Mysteries, Gwen Barlow, her mother, brother and a cast of colorful performers face another murder mystery on the Jubilee Palace showboat. This time the Jubilee has stopped in Moss Hollow, Kentucky, hometown of the troupe's lead actress, Marianne Dresden. However, Gwen soon learns that the ingenue's real name is Mary Alice Kobb, and she left her parents' cabin and a big secret behind when she ran away from the repressive river town run by the influential Diggers family. Gwen's hopes to avoid problems with the Kobbs are dashed when Mary Alice's coarse backwoods father, Shelby, is found dead on the Jubilee deck, strangled with a length of barbed wire. Sheriff Diggers orders the Jubilee to stay in port until the murder is solved. Gwen combs the town and countryside in search of clues so her beloved showboat can move on. While Mary Alice and other members of the Jubilee family are suspects, Gwen discovers that several people in Moss Hollow, including Shelby's own wife and sons, had reasons for wanting to see the unpleasant farmer done in. Gwen must deal with small-town prejudice, an overly zealous country preacher who takes a fancy to her, and a crude moonshiner who once courted Mary Alice. Luckily, she still has the handsome showboat captain, Carson Stockwell, on her side. Before the murder is solved, Gwen is granted a miraculous gift far beyond her wildest dreams that will change her life forever. But she almost loses this chance for happiness when she faces a horrifying end at the hands of the Moss Hollow killer.

Cynthia Thomason and her husband reside in Florida.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

In the second of the Jubilee Showboat Mysteries, Gwen Barlow, her mother, brother, and a cast of colorful performers face another murder mystery on the Jubilee Palace Showboat. This time the Jubilee has stopped in Moss Hollow, Kentucky, home town of the troupe's lead actress, Marianne Dresden. However, Gwen soon learns that the ingenue's real name is Mary Alice Kobb, and she left her parents' cabin and a big secret behind when she ran away from the repressive river town. Gwen's hopes to avoid problems with the Kobbs are dashed when Mary Alice's father is found dead on the Jubilee deck.

From the Author

My interest in the legend and lore of showboats comes naturally. My grandfather grew up along Midwest rivers in the final days of the floating palaces' enormous contributions to entertaining people in America's remote locales. Reseaching this topic was like reliving the stories I heard as a child.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 265 pages
• Publisher: Five Star (September 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594142963
• ISBN-13: 978-1594142963
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,110,262 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm Cynthia Thomason, writer of romance and some mystery. I am from America's heartland - born in Indiana and raised in Ohio. While working my way through college, I took a job at a radio and TV station and got hooked on journalism. To make a living, I taught high school English for several years before moving to south Florida where my husband and I started an auction company. I became a licensed auctioneer and estate buyer which fed my love for uncovering unusual and oddball items. Luckily I haven't yet crossed the line between collector and hoarder! Recently my writer husband, Walter, and I sold our business. I miss the excitement of the auction but I can write full time now. I also have time to experiment with the new Kindle craze. I have some back list titles up now for purchase. I have won the HOLT Medallion Award, the Golden Quill and Readers' Choice Awards and I've been nominated several times for the prestigious Maggie Award. Though I haven't won the Maggie, "It was an honor just to be nominated..." (Practicing for my Oscar speech :-) I love to write about American's small towns, similar to the one where I grew up in Summit County, Ohio. I like to travel the U.S. especially in the travel trailer we just bought so we can take Sparky, our adorable silky terrier mix. I have one son, also a writer. My favorite place to spend an afternoon is the mountains of North Carolina, but I haven't been to Ireland yet.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Antoher great showboat mystery, September 23, 2005

By 

Dawn Dowdle "Mystery Lovers Corner reviewer" (Lynchburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grave Review: A Jubilee Showboat Mystery (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)

The Jubilee Palace showboat has stopped for a performance in Moss Hollow, Kentucky. It is soon discovered that Moss Hollow is the birthplace of the troupe's lead actress, Marianne Dresden.

Apparently Marianne Dresden was born Mary Alice Kobb and left her parents' cabin and a big secret and ran away from the river town. The town appears to be run by the Diggers family. Everywhere Gwen Barlow turns, there is another member of the Diggers family.

Gwen's mother inherited the Jubilee Palace and now lives on it with her daughter Gwen and her son Preston.

After the performance, Mary Alice's father is found murdered on the showboat, grounding it in Moss Hollow until the investigation is completed. Gwen had so hoped they could leave right after the performance to avoid problems with the Kobb family.

In an attempt to free the Jubilee so it can move on, Gwen begins to investigate the murder to try to assist the sheriff. She soon finds that many people had reasons to see Mr. Kobb eliminated. In her attempts to find the truth, she has to deal with small-town prejudice and a country preacher who takes a fancy to Gwen. Then there's the crude moonshiner who once dated Mary Alice. Mary Alice wants nothing to do with anyone in Moss Hollow.

Gwen is happy to have the handsome showboat captain, Carson Stockwell, assisting her in the investigation and protecting her when needed.

Before the Jubilee is finally freed to go, a miracle arrives for Gwen. Can Gwen solve the murder without putting herself in harm and losing a chance at the miracle?

I love this series set on an old showboat. The characters are so enjoyable. So many different personalities and yet it is easy to keep them straight as you read. The author has done a great job of creating them and making them come to life. I feel as if I've been aboard the showboat when I'm reading.

Gwen is a fun, but determined young woman. She has to be to be able to run the Jubilee. But there are some twists in this book that make her relook at her life.

I highly recommend this book and can't wait to read the next one.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars exciting Americana historical amateur sleuth, September 28, 2005

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grave Review: A Jubilee Showboat Mystery (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)

After inheriting the showboat the Jubilee Palace, The Barlows, mother Lillian daughter Gwen and brother Preston leave their staid existence in a small town and perform shows along the rivers of America. Their latest stop is Moss Hollow, Kentucky; an insular village that makes the star of the show Marianne Dresden acts very peculiar. Instead of acting like her casual out going self, she hides in her stateroom.

Gwen learns the reason the star is acting despondent and reclusive is because she came from this town and her real name is Mary Alice Kobb who left home in disgrace. Her father, a stern emotionally abusive man wants her to come home which she refuses to do and after the performances his body is found dead. The sheriff refuses to let the Jubilee leave until the murderer is caught and when another killing occurs, Gwen decides to snoop never realizing that she will be caught in a killer's trap.

Readers who like exciting amateur sleuth novels set in an American historical setting near the turn of the twentieth century will find the Jubilee showboat mysteries a pure delight. Cynthia Thomason creates characters that are easy to like and places then in situations that range from the comical to dangerous sometimes in the same scene. She creates a picture of a bygone era, one this reviewer finds enchanting.

Harriet Klausner