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Lowcountry Bribe [Paperback]

C. Hope Clark
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (214 customer reviews)

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Book Description

January 31, 2012
A killer wants to make certain she buys the farm.

Threats, a missing boss, a very dead co-worker, a high-level investigation and a sinister hog farmer: Lowcountry Ag Department manager Carolina Slade is a bean-counting civil servant in hot water.

Carolina Slade is a by-the-book county manager for the Department of Agriculture—a civil servant who coordinates federal loans for farmers in the coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina. When one of her clients, a hog farmer named Jessie Rawlings, offers her a bribe, Slade reports Jessie to her superiors. The next thing she knows, she’s besieged by Resident Agent-In-Charge, now a Contract Investigator, Wayne Largo from the Feds’ IG Office in Atlanta. He and his partner have come to investigate Slade’s accusations, and if possible catch Jessie in the act of handing over money.

However, the IG isn't telling Slade everything. The agents are also investigating the disappearance of Slade's boss the year before in connection to possible land fraud. And when the sting on Jessie goes bad, the case is put on hold and Wayne is called back to Atlanta, leaving Slade to fear not only for her life and job, but for her children’s safety.

Author C. Hope Clark, the granddaughter of a Mississippi cotton farmer, holds a B.S. in Agriculture from Clemson University and has 25 years’ experience with the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Now an award-winning writer, she manages FundsforWriters.com, a weekly newsletter service she founded that reaches almost 50,000 writers to include university professors, professional journalists and published mystery authors. Writer's Digest has recognized the site in its annual 101 Best Web Sites for Writers for a dozen years. Hope is married to a 30-year veteran of federal law enforcement, a Senior Special Agent, now a private investigator. They live in South Carolina, on the banks of Lake Murray. Hope is hard at work on the next novel in her Carolina Slade Mystery Series. Visit her at www.chopeclark.com.

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Product Details

  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Bell Bridge Books (January 31, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1611940907
  • ISBN-13: 978-1611940909
  • Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (214 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #561,034 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

C. Hope Clark is founder of FundsforWriters.com , a writer's resource awarded 101 Best Websites for Writers by Writer's Digest Magazine each year for over a decade. Her weekly publications reach 35,000 readers. She works from her study overlooking Lake Murray in beautiful central South Carolina.

Hope comes alive at conferences across the country, from Mississippi to Oklahoma, from Pennsylvania to Florida, South Carolina to Iowa. She motivates and educates writers to step up, take charge, and create their careers. Her latest FFW release often discussed at conferences is The Shy Writer Reborn: An Introverted Writer's Wake-up Call.

Hope, however, is most excited in her mystery fiction. She's the author of The Carolina Slade Mystery Series, the first release entitled Lowcountry Bribe, by Bell Bridge Books, Memphis, TN. Released February 2012. Tidewater Murder, book two, released in April 2013. With an agriculture degree from Clemson University and a two-decade history of working with US Dept of Agriculture, Hope can walk the walk of protagonist, Carolina Slade, who reviewers are falling in love with per the long list of five-star reviews at Amazon.

BLURB

Threats, a missing boss, a very dead co-worker, a high-level investigation and a sinister hog farmer: Lowcountry Ag Department manager Carolina Slade is a bean-counting civil servant in hot water.

Carolina Slade is a by-the-book county manager for the Department of Agriculture a civil servant who coordinates federal loans for farmers in the coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina. When one of her clients, a hog farmer named Jessie Rawlings, offers her a bribe, Slade reports Jessie to her superiors. She's besieged by Resident Agent-In-Charge Wayne Largo from the Feds IG Office in Atlanta. He and his partner arrive to investigate Slade's accusations, and, if possible, catch Jessie in the act of handing over money.

However, the IG isn't telling Slade everything. The agents are also investigating the disappearance of Slade's boss the year before in connection to possible land fraud. And when the sting on Jessie goes bad, the case is put on hold and Wayne is called back to Atlanta, leaving Slade to fear not only for her life and job, but for her children's safety.


THE BRIBE

Jesse drew me by my stretched sleeve to the truck bed, my face barely a foot from the nearest body. "There's ten thousand dollars in it for you," he whispered, draping his arm around my shoulders. "If you find a way to get me the Williams farm. We can iron out the details later . . . in private." He winked and clicked his tongue. "If you know what I mean."

Panic coursed through me at the altered state. Like hearing that your churchgoing mother liked bourbon straight and sex on top.

He'd offered me a bribe.


THE PROTAGONIST

My signature line read Carolina Slade Bridges, County Manager, United States Department of Agriculture. I made government loans on behalf of the American taxpayer to the rural residents of Charleston County, South Carolina. Problem was, I spent more time trying to get the money back. Poverty made repayment difficult. My job made for stories the average urban dweller would never comprehend.

Charleston County contains the stylish historic city, which everyone associates with culture, Southern charm, and plantation blue bloods living in antebellum splendor overlooking The Battery. No one envisions small-time farmers scrambling to make a living on Rhett Butler's stomping ground, but the string of islands along the coastline offered them a reasonable subsistence with the support of federal monies. I admired their pride and tried to ignore their plight, so I could sleep at night.

Slade was my maiden name going back to my great grandmother from Mississippi. Only my Momma and Daddy called me Carolina and nobody who knew me used my married name, Bridges. I loved my heritage, but I didn't love my husband. Slade was the best title for all concerned.

Customer Reviews

C. Hope Clark did a great job with LowCountry Bribe. Kathy H. Yates  |  45 reviewers made a similar statement
This is one of those books that once you get reading it you really don't want to put it down. Karen V. Petrossi  |  48 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
45 of 47 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A Slice of the South With A Whole Lot of Spice February 28, 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Featuring a fiery and fiesty Southern Belle with a wickedly dry sense of humor and an endless supply of priceless (and quite quotable) one-liners, you are transported into the South Carolina Lowcountry with a fresh set of eyes. The suspense is palpable from the first page to the last as you traipse through the farmlands that inhabit the outskirts of historic Charleston and get to know the people who call the Palmetto State home. While the issues in Slade's life entangle themselves, you wonder if they will ever loosen their grip or if the female protagonist who, at times, feels worn "thinner than cheap toilet paper" will herself unravel. The honest to a fault heroine is thrust into questionable circumstances surrounding her job and home life. As the two worlds collide, you are swept into a hurricane of emotions as you attempt to solve the mystery and delve deeper to discover hidden facets of lively characters who pop off of the page and onto your front porch. I found myself disappointed at the end of the book--not at all because of the ending of this enthralling plot, but because I wanted more escapades with this brilliantly illustrated character whose quirks are sure to snare even the most reluctant reader. I cannot wait for the next book in this series to further explore the adventures (or misadventures) Slade and her entourage encounter.
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24 of 27 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars fun read - can't wait for the next one February 5, 2012
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Masterful prose tinged with suspense and just the right amount of dry humor. To be trite - a real page-turner. Leaves me hungering for more. Congrats to C Hope Clark - please keep writing!
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19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable read, kept me turning pages February 24, 2012
Format:Paperback
Long familiar with C. Hope Clark's informative newsletter, FundsForWriters, I looked forward to her breakout novel, Lowcountry Bribe, and she did not disappoint.Her character, Carolina Slade, is sassy, brave, but with real human qualities. Although the first chapter might be a bit too descriptive, Clark had me by the second chapter and I never looked back. She even handled a difficult scene toward the end of book with real skill. I can't wait until the next one (please say there will a next one). Who would have known that working for the Department of Agriculture could be so exciting!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book - Highly Recommended Read
Carolina Slade is a hard working mom who finds herself snared in a web of distrust. As the County Manager, United States Department of Agriculture in Charleston County, South... Read more
Published 7 days ago by W. A. Thurston
5.0 out of 5 stars A New Mystery Series
I got my copy of Lowcountry Bribe just before leaving on a three week trip to Italy. You would think that the glories of Florence would be a sufficient distraction to keep me from... Read more
Published 10 days ago by Anne Belov Fine Art
5.0 out of 5 stars It started with a bribe...
... but don't think this mystery is caught in red tape. Agriculture Agents carry guns too, and know how to use them when murder is afoot. Read more
Published 12 days ago by Jennifer Stolzer
4.0 out of 5 stars Unique and entertaining
The story was intriguing because it featured a typical federal employee . Some might think the situations she encountered could never happen, but I believe they are not beyond... Read more
Published 20 days ago by Shereebeth
4.0 out of 5 stars A page-turner for sure.
I'm a hard critic. If a book doesn't grab me and hold my attention, I put it down without a second thought. Read more
Published 28 days ago by Jon Batson
3.0 out of 5 stars Well-written book
Good characterization; kept with the dialogue style of each character. Variety in vocabulary. Brought in smells and other senses. Good organization and good plot. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Carol M. Hegberg
5.0 out of 5 stars Lowcoutry Bribe Rocks!
LOWCOUNTRY BRIBE by C. Hope Clark has the best opening line I have read in quite some time: "O-positive primer wasn't quite the color I had in mind for the small office, but Lucas... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Glenn Walker
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow...what a find
I searched my Kindle for a weekend read, thinking a good repeat was due. I bought this a year ago and it some how got lost in with the others. What a great book! Read more
Published 1 month ago by SwissMJ
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing nail bitter!!!
This was an amazing book, i couldnt put it down until I was done!! It kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time. I cant wait for the next one!!!!!!
Published 2 months ago by Erika
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
I really enjoyed the twists & turns & the sexual tension. It was a difficult book to put down & a great escape from life, which is what I look for in a book. Read more
Published 2 months ago by lololsn
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This is a must read book for families and especially women who want to...
Joyce,
Funny, but overcoming abuse did not enter my mind as a theme. The goal was for Slade to learn to believe in herself and stand up, no matter the consequences. But you are right. So glad you saw this. But it in essence took trusting herself to save her children, empowering her. Thanks for... Read more
May 26, 2012 by C. Hope Clark |  See all 3 posts
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