In 1942, Pat Gunn of Wisdom, New Mexico, torches his home to collect the insurance money, which he plans to use to save his beloved movie house, the Starlight Theater. Wisdom is dying because of the government's decision to close the gold mines during World War II, but Pat believes the war will soon be over, and Wisdom will be a boomtown again. Unfortunately, town marshal Ron Bowdrie decides to make an example of Pat and calls in the state fire investigator. After the investigator is shot in Ron's car, Pat is the obvious suspect. But is he being framed? The coroner and the sheriff believe Pat is innocent and may be railroaded for the crime by state officials out to avenge one of their own. Hodgson combines likable, down-on-their-luck characters; an engaging plot; and best of all, a vivid portrait of a town slowly fading away. Sue O'Brien
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Review
"... Hodgson combines likable, down-on-their-luck characters; an engaging plot; and best of all, a vivid portrait of a town slowly fading away."
-- Booklist (August 2003) (Booklist )
"(Hodgson) has spun a page-turner...a mystery with a healthy dose of hope, friendship, loyalty, and love."
-- San-Angelo Standard Times (2003) (San-Angelo Standard Times )
"...an insightful historical mystery..."
--BookCrossing (Book Crossing )
"...a clever who-done-it..."
-- Harriet Klausner Book Reviews (UNKNOWN )
"...superb look at small town USA during the early American entry into WWII."
-- The Best Reviews (The Best Reviews )
"Pat Gunn torches his home, the Starlight Theatre, for the insurance money, setting the stage for murder and a deadly manhunt."
-- Publishers Weekly (Publisher's Weekly )
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