Willowtree [Kindle Edition]

Mike Bove (Author)

Book Description

In this cozy mystery Bruce DelReno, retired mailman and avid golfer finds a body near the golf course. He attempts to link this to other murders, which he sees connected to the entanglements and secrets of a group of locoweed smoking locals. His friend, an Apache Indian, becomes involved and supplies much of the dry humor. Much of the story takes place at the golf course, a favorite restaurant, and a nearby ranch, in the fictitious town of Willowtree, AZ.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Reviewed by Stephanie Dagg for Readers' Favorite

"Willowtree" by Mike Bove is a mystery set in a small town in Arizona. I hesitate to add 'cozy' to that description because that term conjures up garrulous, bumbling amateurs enthusiastically poking around in affairs that don't concern them. This isn't the case here as Bruce DelReno finds himself dragged into affairs very reluctantly after stumbling across some bones during a golfing session. Bruce has recently retired as a mailman and is filling a lot of his new free time with golf. And whilst it is true that there isn't any full frontal violence or gore in the story, a requirement of 'cozy', it has at its heart a person's death which is inescapably a brutal act. Bruce uses his local knowledge and tenacity to solve the case.

"Willowtree" is not just about a murder. There is an interesting look at life after retirement. Bruce is coping well mainly through his keen interest in golf but his wife Genny feels she is not ready to completely stop contributing her skills. Bruce's interest in golf provides an extra layer to the story. You don't need to be a golfer to appreciate it and it is quite handy to pick up a few pointers as to what it is all about the next time you see it on TV. Bruce is a very real person. He is grumpy, witty, and caring and he can be annoying. He is a flawed and unlikely hero. But he is determined and curious and he sees this mystery through to the end. He is also a loyal friend and there is a great sense of trust and comradeship between him and the companions who he ropes in to help in his investigations. 

From the Author

"This story has characters based loosely on me and folks I know, but the murder stuff is completely made up."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 379 KB
• Print Length: 242 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1463720033
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Mike Bove (July 19, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005DNYFZK
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #453,703 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Mystery DelReno Style December 10, 2011

By The Kindle Book Review

Format:Paperback

The story is set in the small fictitious Arizona town of Willowtree. Bruce DelReno is a retired US Postal Service employee and is extremely passionate about his golf game. Ginny, his wife, is a nurse and they have a 9 year old Golden Retriever named Keely.

After teeing off from the 7th tee box, Bruce discovers bones off in the woods where he is angrily looking for his golf ball. He makes it known in the clubhouse what he has found and is contacted by Bill Hautsman PhD an archeologist/anthropologist who is very curious to check out the bones. They arrange to meet for breakfast the next day and go out to the spot to have a closer look.

Bruce brings Keely with him and as they are looking at the bones Keely makes a discovery of her own, a dead body of a man who had been stabbed and pushed off a cliff.

Bruce can't get this mystery off his mind and decides to play detective and see what he can find out. He becomes even more determined after a second body is found in the same area. As he gets immersed in the case and aids the police in their investigation he finds himself tangled in a web of secrecy that has been going on for years.

I enjoyed reading this book and felt as if Bruce was a friend confiding in me about his life and the investigation he is involved in. The other characters stand out on their own and I had a vivid picture of them and their involvement in this story. The cast of characters is very well defined.

I recommend this book if you are a reader who likes to be drawn into a mystery as well as the lives of the characters involved. A great read for young adults as well.

Marilou George ~ The Kindle Book Review.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Yea for Willowtree! August 25, 2011

By Beth-Ann B.

Format:Paperback

I so enjoyed reading Willowtree, the voice of the narrator, Bruce DelReno, is reminiscent of Archie in The Nero Wolf Mysteries, by Rex Stout. It feels like you are being told the story by a friend over a relaxing afternoon. Much was revealed about the main character by his dry humor and short to the point sentence structure. The golf references were not wasted on this non-participant either. Mike's easy way of writing allows a clear picture the Arizona landscape, the local diner, and characters. It is an enjoyable quick read, quick because you don't want to put it down!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Hole in One December 13, 2011

By Amber Polo

Format:Paperback

Willowtree is filled with local Arizona color and the slow pace of retired life, except when it gets exciting. Though not a golfer, I wanted to drop in on the Willowtree Golf Club and have a lemonade with Bruce and his cronies to see if he was getting involved in any new murders or mysteries.

Within a few pages I felt I knew Bruce and his Apache friend Ben. By the end I was hoping his dog would stay healthy and wondered if he would stumble over any more dead bodies and if his wife will become a good golfer and maybe beat him. I loved the clever little surprises in the humor.A perfect cozy for reading in an RV or when you can't get out on the course. A hole in one for Mike Bove and his first book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Pleasant cozy mystery with strong central character May 25, 2012

By J. Weight

Format:Kindle Edition

I received a request from the author to review this book.

I loved the character of Bruce DelReno. The story is told in first person from Bruce's point of view and it was very easy for me to picture this retired postal worker with too much time on his hands, puttering around and poking his nose into a murder investigation, when he isn't busy playing golf. While some might be appalled at some of the liberties Bruce takes with U.S. mail and unlocked doors, it's completely in character. And, in a small town, not entirely unexpected.

The murder mystery is pleasant enough: not entirely predictable but not a twisting, turning chain of events. As described by other reviewers, this is a "cozy" mystery. There's no gore, brutality, or strong language. It's a book I found interesting enough to finish, but not so engaging I couldn't put it down.

As I read more and more self-published novels, I'm becoming accustomed to books that aren't quite as polished as traditionally published books. I'm not sure if it's because the authors aren't having their work professionally edited, or if they aren't listening to the editors, or if the editors themselves aren't quite as polished. Whatever the reason, I don't like it, but I'm getting used to it. This book is not quite polished. I found most of the dialogue stilted. There were many times I asked myself "what does this have to do with anything?" - and 99% of the time, the answer was "nothing." There were elements I didn't find believable, although it wasn't necessary to suspend belief much in order to enjoy Bruce and his telling of the story. I didn't believe that, even in a small town, the police would've given as much information to a civilian or involved a civilian in a murder investigation.... Whether or not Bruce thought they were moving slow in the investigation was incidental and immaterial.

All in all, for $1.99 it's an enjoyable read. I think most people will like the Bruce DelReno character. If you like golf, it's an added bonus because there's a lot of golf talk, which went completely over my head. Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Read for any Golfer May 20, 2012

By Maryann Miller

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Imagine going to retrieve a ball and finding a dead body. Then imagine being a suspect in the murder. The first supposition was okay for me. The body had to be found and Bruce, a retired postal worker, is just the guy to accomplish that task. The fact that the police suspect him, was a bit hard for me to accept. There was absolutely no reason for the police to think he had anything to do with the murder, so that part of the plot was troublesome to me.

On all other levels, however, the book was enjoyable. Bruce is a good, strong character and the mystery of who did kill the poor guy in the rough is a good one.

When I first started reading, I had to slap my editor's hand as I wanted to stop and write a critique - "too much telling, Mike." But then I realized the narrative style was working. It was like sitting at the 19th Hole and listening to Bruce tell a story as only golfers and fishermen can.

If not for the plot problems and the fact that I would have liked to see more of Bruce's wife, I would have given this book four stars. The descriptions were wonderfully rendered, and I had a real sense of place as I was reading.

More About the Author

Mike Bove grew up in Vermont. He wrote articles and drew cartoons for his college newspaper. Mike was involved as an actor and director in high school, college and community theater. He adapted a Russian folk tale, The Nosebag, for the stage, produced and directed it. He was a public school teacher, track, and soccer coach before moving to Cape Cod. There he became an avid fisherman and golfer. He joined the Postal Service, transferred to Sedona, retiring in 2010.

Willowtree Is Mike's first novel in the Bruce DelReno Mystery Series. He lives in Cottonwood, AZ with wife, Jane, and Golden Retriever, Ceile.