Secrets (Ike Schwartz Mysteries (Paperback)) [Paperback]

Frederick Ramsay (Author)

Book Description

Series: Ike Schwartz Mysteries (Paperback) | Publication Date: June 1, 2006

Waldo Templeton was, at best, a mediocre organist. He was also careless, so his killer was able to follow him to the sanctuary of Stonewall Jackson Memorial Church in Picketsville, VA, and dispatch him. Then the Vicar's secretary follows Waldo to an early grave.
The Vicar, the Reverend Blake Fisher, sent to Picketsville when his ambition overcame his common sense, had had enough trouble in Philadelphia. He did not need a corpse behind his altar. He did not need his gun to be stolen, and he definitely did not need the local police breathing down his back as a suspect in a double murder.
Aided by the computer wizardry of his newest deputy, Sam (Samantha) Ryder and the country wisdom of Billy Sutherlin, Sheriff Ike Schwartz must sort through false leads, the unsolicited helpfulness of a politically connected parishioner and missing counseling files belonging to Blake's predecessor. Then the Vicar himself becomes the killer's third target....
Secrets is the sequel to Ramsay's first novel, Artscape, featuring Sheriff Ike Schwartz.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ramsay follows his solid debut, Artscape (2004), with an even better sophomore effort, in which Picketsville, Va., sheriff Ike Schwartz looks into the murder of church organist Waldo Templeton at the struggling Stonewall Jackson Memorial Episcopal Church. The little congregation's vicar, Blake Fisher, recently appointed by outside authority, is at odds with its entrenched cadre led by the church secretary, Millicent Bass. Millicent is determined not to let Blake have the upper hand even though he's nominally her boss. The normal tensions that might be expected by such an appointment are exacerbated not only by Waldo's murder but by other circumstances that Ramsay skillfully limns as he explores the conflicts and the growths (healthy and malignant) that evolve from it. Schwartz proves as adept at navigating the philosophical/religious waters as he is at handling the more conventional aspects of crime solving. The result is both a thought-provoking examination of serious pastoral issues and a thoroughly entertaining mystery that succeeds on all levels without recourse to bombast or carnage. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

Ramsay follows his solid debut, Artscape (2004), with an even better sophomore effort, in which Picketsville, Va., sheriff Ike Schwartz looks into the murder of church organist Waldo Templeton at the struggling Stonewall Jackson Memorial Episcopal Church. The little congregation's vicar, Blake Fisher, recently appointed by outside authority, is at odds with its entrenched cadre led by the church secretary, Millicent Bass. Millicent is determined not to let Blake have the upper hand even though he's nominally her boss. The normal tensions that might be expected by such an appointment are exacerbated not only by Waldo's murder but by other circumstances that Ramsay skillfully limns as he explores the conflicts and the growths (healthy and malignant) that evolve from it. Schwartz proves as adept at navigating the philosophical/religious waters as he is at handling the more conventional aspects of crime solving. The result is both a thought-provoking examination of serious pastoral issues and a thoroughly entertaining mystery that succeeds on all levels without recourse to bombast or carnage. --Publishers Weekly(Aug.)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 289 pages
• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press; 1st Trade Paperback Ed edition (June 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590582861
• ISBN-13: 978-1590582862
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,867,125 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Frederick Ramsay was born in Baltimore. He is a graduate of Washington and Lee University and received his doctorate in Anatomy from the University of Illinois. After a stint in the Army, he joined the faculty of the University of Maryland, School of Medicine where he taught Gross and Micro Anatomy and Embryology. Collaborated and did independent research in the immunological system and its relation to cancer. He is the author of several scientific research and general technical articles.
During this time he also pursued studies in theology and in 1971 was ordained an Episcopal priest. After leaving the University, he served two congregations in the Baltimore area full time and several part-time.
He is now retired from full-time ministry and writes fiction.
His first novel, Artscape, was published by Poisoned Pen Press and launched July, 2004. His second, Secrets, (Poisoned Pen Press), was published in August of 2005 and Impulse, July 2006, was cited by Publishers Weekly as one of the one hundred best books 2006. He is the author of the Ike Schwartz mysteries, A series beginning with Predators set in Botswana, and a stand alone, religious historical fiction-Judas the Gospel of betrayal.
He is an iconographer, an accomplished public speaker and once hosted a television spot, Prognosis, on WMAR-TV, Baltimore. He currently lives in Surprise, Arizona with his wife and partner, Susan.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Exciting Follow-up to Artscape, August 2, 2005

By 

Cynthia Chow (Kaneohe, Hawaii) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Secrets (Ike Schwartz Mysteries) (Hardcover)

After a scandal forces Reverend Blake Fisher to move from his prosperous Philadelphia congregation to the dying Picketsville Episcopal Church he despairs of being sentenced to live out the rest of his career in a podunk town whose members refuse to accept him. When the seedy church organist turns up dead in his church Blake again finds himself under suspicion, especially once it's discovered that Waldo Templeton had a talent for blackmail. It's up to Sheriff Ike Schwartz, a former CIA agent, and his quirky deputies to determine just who was willing to kill to protect his/her secrets.

In this sequel to Artscape Ike shares the spotlight with Blake, a wrongly accused vicar who has to contend with the animosity of his church as well as someone who seems determined to sabotage him. Both men are having their own difficulties with the women in their lives as Ike continues his relationship with the outspoken, knee-jerk liberal Ruth Harris, the college president who both frustrates and intrigues him. At the same time Blake finds himself drawn to the new organist who may be scared of by his past before they can plan a future. Ramsay takes some shots at the academia and at liberals when Ike is forced to participate in a very humorous and entertaining faculty dinner full of pretentious, stuffed-shirt professors. Although this is an Ike Schwartz mystery Blake Fisher emerges as an engaging new character strong enough to hold a novel of his own. Ramsay once again has created an original and entertaining mystery full of small-town charm and big-city crime. This is a series with great promise and should not be missed.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Promising, but not there yet., December 6, 2005

By 

L. J. Roberts (Oakland, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Secrets (Ike Schwartz Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Ramsey has created some interesting characters of whom I'd like to see more, not only Ike, but his deputy Sam and the Vicar Blake Fisher. However, that is offset with a bit too much time expressing his views on academia, intellectuals, politics, religion and fat men in Speedos; not surprising considering the author's background as a professor and, later, an ordained Episcopal priest. I feel Ramsey definitely has potential, but hasn't quite hit his stride. I, for one, will stick with him and hope he finds his focus.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent regional police procedural, August 3, 2005

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Secrets (Ike Schwartz Mysteries) (Hardcover)

The robbery several months ago of 500 million dollars worth of fine art from Callend College for Women made national news. Picketsville, Virginia locals were interviewed and many in-spots like the diner and its customers were on the news. For instance so-so Stonewall Jackson Memorial Church organist Waldo Templeton appeared smiling on TV sets across the nation.

However, that proved to be a mistake as the classic butterfly effect occurs; someone enters the church and kills Waldo as the victim ironically touches Sanctuary. Church secretary and all around busy body Millicent Bass finds the body. As she and her posse of friends hysterically and inadvertently contaminate the crime scene, Sheriff Ike Schwartz struggles with a motive. Due to a note the deceased had inside his shirt pocket, Ike focuses on the relatively new vicar, Reverend Randolph Blake Fisher, Jr., who arrived after a scandal back in his previous church in Philadelphia. The killer next murders Millicent assuming that her nosiness gave away information in the church's personnel files. Still leaning towards Blake as the culprit, Ike revises his opinion when the murderer tries to kill the vicar.

With regional police procedurals like this one Frederick Ramsay will not remain a secret to readers. The pleasant story line provides the audience with a captivating local group that shows the congregation's loyalty with the naming of the church. Ike is tremendous as he hones in on Blake, who has a history of trouble with his flock while also struggling with the ladies devastating the crime scene. Fans will take delight with this fine mystery in which the chief and the readers will wonder what Blake is hiding.

Harriet Klausner