OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Ghost Letter" by Helen Currie Foster.]

"Ghost Letter" by Helen Currie Foster is the third book in the Alice MacDonald Greer mystery series featuring Texas Hill Country lawyer Alice MacDonald Greer. I have not read the previous books in the series, but it was easy to jump right in with the characters and the plot line of this book. Ghost Letter is a cozy mystery set in Coffee Creek, and it can easily be read as a stand alone.

A letter found inside an antique nightstand, linking between oil tycoons and a prominent Mexican family, set off a tangled chain of events that culminates in assault, death, and havoc. The letter reveals that Alejandro, the father of the local Congressman Sandro Navarro, is the illegitimate son and heir of Alex Drinkman, World War I pilot and son of a wealthy oil family. Country lawyer Alice Greer's quiet, uncomplicated life becomes entangled when asked to represent the Navarro's interests and establish their relationship to Alex Drinkman. As Alice starts to establish the authenticity of her client's claim, she finds herself neck-deep in a world of corrupt politics and intrigue. The plot thickens when a connection between the Drinkman's foundation and some shady affairs comes to light. As curious tidbits about that and Alex's mysterious death pop up during the investigation, our team is plunged into a whirlpool of legal battles and murder.

Our conscientious heroine is a person everyone would want on his corner. She manages to balance between her work and her budding relationship with her beau. There are many plot threads running through the story and they all intersect. The novel is a many-ingredient concoction of intrigue, fallible human nature, romance, humor, a psychological character study, and a family drama.

The Coffee Creek setting is beautifully constructed, and there's a colorful cast of supporting characters. There is a strong feeling of friendship between these characters woven throughout the entire story, and I loved that. The story is well written for most parts, but the writing was a bit abrupt and succinct at times. Sentences sometimes were awkwardly jarred together.

From the first page to the last I was simply charmed by the book, although I found it very slow-paced. Certain parts of the book seem to dawdle and become repetitive, especially when referring to inheritance and property laws and legal actions needed to be done. You won't find any breathtaking suspense here. The plot plods along with limited action, focusing instead on the characters and the setting, not a bad thing. The characters are what made the story, how they intertwined with each other and moved it forward. I loved Alice and enjoyed the small town setting. The story could be trimmed down a little, because there were some things that started to feel repetitive.

Saying that I loved the book and its feisty heroine, so rate it 3 out of 4 stars. While a few parts of the book were a bit slow-paced, overall it was a very enjoyable read. The book was a treat to read, although I wouldn’t describe it as a page turner. Definitely recommended, but don't expect a fast paced thriller. Just allow the story to develop slowly and creep up on you, and it will be worth the wait. If you like a mystery with a unique setting, colorful characters, southern charm, and a little quirkiness, this delicious tale is certainly for you.

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Ghost Letter
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Another great review! Last year I read another book in this series, Ghost Dog, and enjoyed it very much. I agree with many of your comments. Although these are different books, I thought the setting and close-knit community were the highlights of the story. Like you, I found the pacing slow.

bookowlie wrote:Another great review! Last year I read another book in this series, Ghost Dog, and enjoyed it very much. I agree with many of your comments. Although these are different books, I thought the setting and close-knit community were the highlights of the story. Like you, I found the pacing slow.

Thank you. I recall your review. Regardless those comments, I enjoyed the book immensely.

I felt the same way about Ghost Dog. It took me a long time to finish the book, but I still loved it!

bookowlie wrote:I felt the same way about Ghost Dog. It took me a long time to finish the book, but I still loved it!

Likewise!

Another great review, gali! I don't believe I have read a cozy mystery before, though I have heard of them. I might have to give this genre a try at some point, though. I'm glad that you were able to enjoy the read despite the pacing and repetitions!

hsimone wrote:Another great review, gali! I don't believe I have read a cozy mystery before, though I have heard of them. I might have to give this genre a try at some point, though. I'm glad that you were able to enjoy the read despite the pacing and repetitions!

Thank you. You should certainly give this genre a try. I enjoyed the book very much and loved the heroine!

Awesome review! I enjoy cozies and law fiction, so this book sounds like a great read, though I generally like my books to have faster pacing, maybe the law bits will make up for the slower pacing?

AuthoressofMystery wrote:Awesome review! I enjoy cozies and law fiction, so this book sounds like a great read, though I generally like my books to have faster pacing, maybe the law bits will make up for the slower pacing?

Thank you.

I think the book is worth a read, so give it a try.

The premise sounds very intriguing. I usually prefer fast-paced mystery books, but this sounds really interesting. Great job on the review.

kimmyschemy06 wrote:The premise sounds very intriguing. I usually prefer fast-paced mystery books, but this sounds really interesting. Great job on the review.

It is. Thank you.

It's great that the books can be read separately. It seems it would be difficult to keep Alice simple if she has been involved in other situations like those in this book. This is not my favorite genre but I am becoming more interested in other genres since joining this site. Thanks for another great review.

This is a good review and made the book sound interesting. I love cozy mysteries so this is right up my alley.

I prefer fast-paced mystery stories, but this book sounds quite intriguing. Thank you for the great review!

Thank you guys.