Customer Reviews

Perhaps She'll Die (A Chantalene Mystery)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Chantalene, a young woman haunted by dreadful memories, returns to her home town of Tetumka, Oklahoma. Twelve years ago, in one horrible night, her father was lynched for a crime he didn't commit, and her gypsy mother, LaVita, fearing for her own life, ran away and abandoned her.

Now Chantalene is determined to find out what really happened, and who killed her father. The townspeople aren't exactly thrilled to see her, and things start going dreadfully awry from the first page. Fortunately, she finds an ally, Drew Sander, a New York tax attorney, who is also returning to Tetumka, but for very different reasons. I won't tell you what happens, of course; you'll have too much fun reading this book for yourself.

Author Marcia Preston writes an engaging fast-paced thriller that hooks the reader from the very first sentence and doesn't let go until the end. The mystery has many levels--child abuse, traumatic memories, frontier justice, and the characters' search for their own integrity. Not to mention a delightful hint of romance. I can recommend this book for a really enjoyable read. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.

I finished the book this morning with the satisfied feeling of having spent my time on worthy reading. I sincerely hope the author is hard at work writing a follow-up, because I'd love to follow these characters as they continue to grow. Highly recommended.

This little mystery perfectly captures rural life and thinking, the effect of trauma on a child, and the strange ways those we know best can surprise us. A very satisfying read that will take you out of your world for a few hours.

If I hadn't read good reviews of this book and just looked at the cover, I'd have passed it right by; I can't really say why! But this was a surprisingly well-written and intriguing book. This is my first book by M.K. Preston and I'll now try another!

This was a wonderful read. The story moved and I was caught up from the first page. The mystery was cleverly devised; even though all the clues were placed, I was surprised by the outcome. The characters were intriquing and felt like real people. Their conversation was natural and engaging; I loved the interraction between Chantalene and Drew. It was tantalizing and fun. Marcia K. Preston's first novel is like experiencing Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma's house. You want to eat your fill, but you don't want to wait too long for another helping either.
Once while away from the book, I kept sensing a scene, returning to it in my mind like one does with a song that will not be banished from the brain. Eventually, I realized that it was Tetumka and Chantalene's ranch and Whipporrwill's corral that I was seeing in my mind. That desolate place was with me...and I was longing to be back with the characters and see what might happen next. An excellent first book that leaves the reader begging for a sequel.

Chantalene is hip, a protagonist with an attitude. She is tough, funny, sentimental and, bottom-line, isn't going to leave Tetumka Oklahoma until she finds out who murdered her daddy and what happened to her mother. Trouble is, it happened 15 years ago, but that doesn't stop her. She shakes up plenty of trouble in Tetumka when she comes back and starts asking questions. Perhaps She'll Die is a great read--humorous, intriguing, with a little romance, and a surprising ending. Rural Oklahoma comes to life, and Preston's characters have all the bite and edge reminiscent in Flannery O'Connor's short stories...an opinion not tendered lightly. I hated to put Preston's book down, and hated even more when it ended. Hope to see Chantalene again. Hat's off to M.K. Preston.

Marcia Prescott's "Perhaps She'll Die" zips along at just the right pace. Chantalene, the main character, has just the heart, beauty and courage to be featured in a series. This independent young woman puts love of family and righting a wrong ahead of personal safety. The mystery, written in the mold of Mary Higgins Clark and other great storytellers, is a winner. Chantalene's ride into town astride her horse with the wind whipping her cheeks has the atmosphere of frontier justice and modern-day womanhood. Ah, to be young again, riding a horse under the hyacinth-blue skies of Oklahoma. Let's hope Chantalene gallops her readers onto the pages of a new adventure soon.

I loved this book and I would recomend it to everyone.

In fairness, I was unable to get past page 30 or so, I found it so depressing.