A Life for a Life

"A real treat, highly recommended for its fine attention to both detail and the psyches of investigators who confront themselves as much as the threat at hand." Midwest Book Review

Laurel Falls, N.C., 1985: I was done with being a crime reporter in Washington, D.C., tired of all the violence. So I packed up and moved to the small town of Laurel Falls, N.C. It looked like heaven to me-ancient mountains brimming with tall trees and songbirds, peace and quiet. Until I found the body.

The sheriff took the easy path, calling it a suicide. No way. I'd found that young woman, and I knew she hadn't taken her own life. I'd spent my whole career searching for the truth, and I wasn't about to stop now. Trouble was, without my usual sources, how much of a murder investigation could I pull off?

But a special kid lived next door. Abit Bradshaw, a teenager struggling to find his rightful place in the world. Hey, I knew all about that. I'd never fitted in either, but eventually I'd found something I was good at. I figured he just needed a chance too.

And he got one when we teamed up to solve that crime. Along the way, we sure met some interesting characters-both bad and good. We had a plan, and we worked it hard to find that killer before we became the next victims.

Looking back, I should've known plans rarely pan out the way you think. Della Kincaid

You'll love this suspenseful story because who doesn't dream of second chances?

Find out why critics and readers are praising Lynda McDaniel's unique voice in mystery novels.

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A Life for a Life is the first novel in the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series by award-winning author Lynda McDaniel. If you like atmospheric settings, fascinating characters, and suspenseful investigations, you'll love this series.

Interview with Lynda McDaniel

Q: What makes the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries Series so special?

A: In addition to the suspense of a good mystery, each book includes people and stories from the years I spent on my "back to the land" farm in Appalachia. You'll meet a cantankerous laundromat owner who was just as weird as she's portrayed, a gentle giant of a beekeeper with an abiding love for his family, and Cleva Hall, who's based on a woman who taught me how to put food by. But especially Abit Bradshaw, one of the amateur sleuths along with Della Kincaid, a former journalist. Abit started in a supporting role, but I listened to my readers and gave him a starring role in the rest of the series. This book and the next--The Roads to Damascus--are coming-of-age stories for Abit.

Q: Why should readers give these books a try?

A: Readers who prefer suspense without over-the-top violence will enjoy this series. I write in the British style, where the dastardly deed is done off stage; (similar in that way to cozy mysteries). I don't like mounting body bags, but I do enjoy the chase for justice. In addition to the crimes, readers will find vivid mountain settings, colorful characters, sharp wit, good food, and a touch of romance.