Murder Was a Stranger [Paperback]

Peggy Swager (Author), Lee Emory (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 11, 2007

Kate Summers has her hands full. A divorced mother with two children and an opinionated Jack Russell Terrier, Kate is the newest member of a small town police force in Colorado. She is determined to learn the ropes of police work and to fit into both her job and the small community. When local land baroness Ethel Gregory is found dead, Kate s investigation turns up more than murder clues. She discovers the town has a dark history and the past appears to be driving current events. Kate must struggle to keep the tangle of lies and secrets from threatening those closest to her.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Swager's plots are somewhat linear, in that Kate Summers is trying to find out who offed a horrible old woman who loved to use her money to hurt people. But where Swager excels is in the motive department. Nothing corrupts like money, and it is up to Kate to examine the underlying impulses of people she sees on an everyday basis. Therein lies the rub for Kate, and the resulting conflict as she works her way to a painful conclusion dredges up the past for her. Her father was also a cop, and when upsetting things happened to him, Kate lost the closeness she enjoyed as his daughter. Her children won't suffer the same fate. --Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA)

MURDER WAS A STRANGER is a good old fashioned whodunit with clean lines. The murder isn't too bloody; Kate doesn't get beaten to a bloody pulp; and the bad guys aren't running around causing unbearable havoc. As to who did it...that is for the reader to figure --Shelley Glodowski, Senior Reviewer

About the Author

Peggy Swager writes both novels and dog training books. She lives near Monument, Colorado with her husband Ken. She has two grown children, two horses, and three dogs. Her Jack Russell Terrier, Cookie, is characterized in this book. There was no attempt to disguise Cookie s basic personality and there are rumors Cookie has employed a lawyer about the situation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 191 pages
• Publisher: Treble Heart Books/Whooodoo Mysteries (June 11, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932695540
• ISBN-13: 978-1932695540
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,723,974 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A good old fashioned whodunit, September 1, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murder Was a Stranger (Paperback)

Peggy Swager is a non-fiction author and long time member of the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers; the Pikes Peak Writer; and the SouthWest Writers. She is now writing and publishing fiction books.

Kate Summers took a job as a cop in Columbine, Colorado. Divorced and leery of men, she soon finds that a new neighbor has bought a house across the street. He happens to be a lawyer, and when her high school aged babysitter's foster mother suddenly dies of unexplained causes, his abilities are a new source of help. For Kate must interview people she has grown to care for in the community and dredge up past conflicts and hurts to figure out who killed a bitter old woman who delighted in causing others pain:

"'No, not Ethel.' Geri's words turned bitter. 'Never anything physical. Ethel twisted the law and used her money to do her dirty work.' Geri scowled. 'Ethel had a big problem with her brother. You see, Ed never missed having the money she enjoyed, and he never resented her for hogging it all, not even for a moment. Ethel may have stormed around and screamed at Ed, but she didn't have any power over him anymore. Did you know he started drinking after we broke up the first time?'"

Swager's plots are somewhat linear, in that Kate Summers is trying to find out who offed a horrible old woman who loved to use her money to hurt people. But where Swager excels is in the motive department. Nothing corrupts like money, and it is up to Kate to examine the underlying impulses of people she sees on an everyday basis. Therein lies the rub for Kate, and the resulting conflict as she works her way to a painful conclusion dredges up the past for her. Her father was also a cop, and when upsetting things happened to him, Kate lost the closeness she enjoyed as his daughter. Her children won't suffer the same fate.

MURDER WAS A STRANGER is a good old fashioned whodunit with clean lines. The murder isn't too bloody; Kate doesn't get beaten to a bloody pulp; and the bad guys aren't running around causing unbearable havoc. As to who did it...that is for the reader to figure out.

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer