Sunday, January 30, 2011

Book Review -- The Rosewood Casket

The Rosewood Casket (Ballad Mystery, #4)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Book source:  Loaned to me by a friend
The Stargill boys have all returned home at the news that their father, Randall, is dying. During the time they wait for “the end” they confront past sibling conflicts, rivalries, and unanswered family questions. They must also solve the mysterious appearance of a “box of bones” given to them by a neighbor. Thus begins a story of ghostly legends, family secrets, and a dying man’s shrouded history.

The Rosewood Casket was a nice blend of historical fiction (the history and botany of Appalachia, and Daniel Boone), ghost stories, and family strife.  And the prologue had me shaking in my slippers!

I thought the author got a little heavy handed with characters -- too many wives, sisters-in-law, girlfriends, past girlfriends, children of girlfriends – to keep track of. And although I was completely immersed in the story until the end, when the mystery was finally solved, the author only devoted a brief two paragraphs to its resolution, which was very disappointing.

But, overall, an entertaining book.

I would NEVER have read this book on my own, so I was glad it passed along to me by a friend.







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