Kay Kendall (2)Besprekingen

After You've Gone by Kay Kendall is a story about Walter MacGregor, Wallie for short. Why Wallie, she is named after her father. She is a 23-year-old girl in 1923 who has a great sense of adventure, she loves Sherlock Holmes stories. She came across a picture of a man and has asked her father, a judge, about the man. One day a man comes to the door asking to see her father. This man turns out to be her Uncle Rory, the man in the picture. Rory is her father's brother and they have been estranged for over 20 years.

Rory tells Wallie that he is afraid that someone is trying to kill him. When an unfortunate accident claims Rory's life, Wallie is determined to investigate. She does not believe that it was an accident but that Rory was murdered. With the clues she has dug up, she goes on a day trip with her Aunt Ida. Aunt Ida is her deceased mother's sister. She is a formidable woman who is constantly correcting Wallie for her behavior. A young woman in the '20s has a certain way she should behave. She does agree to go on the day trip to Galveston. She wants to find out about the people that her Uncle Rory worked for.

She finds that the people that Uncle Rory worked for and hung out with are pretty dangerous. There are gangsters, Al Capone is mentioned, flappers and bootleggers as the country is in the midst of Prohibition. Wallie has now put herself and her overbearing aunt in a dangerous situation. Mixed into all of this is two young men who are pursuing her. So this story is a thriller, as she may be in danger, a romance, which young man will she chose, and Wallie's journey from an ingenue to a young woman who is courageous.

This book is a prequel to the Austin Starr Mysteries, sets up the relationship between Wallie and her granddaughter. I found that this book was easy to read and fun, Wallie has a great sense of humor and a predilection for adventure and danger. I enjoyed the relationship between her and her Aunt Ida. Propriety and adventure do not often go together but in this book, it works. I really enjoyed reading After You've Gone. I think that the title works well also as it is after Rory is gone that Wallie learns about a family member who had not been part of her young life.

I look forward to reading the next book!

This was a fun book to read. We start with a twenty-three-year-old character named Walter MacGregor, Wallie for short. Walter was named after her father who is a judge in Gunmetal, Texas. Wallie, whose mother is deceased has been raised by her father with the help of her two aunts. Her favorite thing to do is read Sherlock Holmes books. That is as close as she figures she will ever get to an adventure. When her uncle Rory shows up she is very intrigued. He claims his life is in danger and he needs his brother’s help. There is definitely some contention between Rory and his older brother. It is obvious that Rory, a rum-runner is nothing like her father, the well-spoken judge. However, his lifestyle intrigues her, even if she doesn’t agree with it. There are family secrets, and a stranger watching the house. No one will talk to her about her uncle or why he left so suddenly twenty years before. When Rory is found dead, it is ruled an accident by the sheriff. Wallie doesn’t believe this was an accident. Her perceptive Aunt Ida, knowing her niece won’t let this go, proposes a trip so Wallie’s father can grieve, while secretly helping Wallie find the information she wants. But things are worse than Wallie could imagine. She and her aunt find themselves knee-deep in gangsters and women they would not usually associate with. Throw into this mix two young men who are after Wallie’s heart and you have a charming yet mysterious story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

I loved this for several reasons. We start off with Wallie writing to her sixteen-year-old granddaughter about Rory. It seems that her granddaughter, Austin Starr is as curious as her grandmother was as a young lady. The time period was one I am not familiar with in books. There seems to have been a lot of research that went into this story to make it accurate. The roaring twenties was a time of prohibition and rum-runners, as well as gangsters. We get an idea through this book what life for a young woman would have been like during that time. Anytime Wallie tries to step out of the acceptable role for women she is treated like she has no brain. She holds out hope for women as they have just won the right to vote. I loved that Wallie assumes she will never marry since she doesn’t want to be reigned in by a man. The story is a remembrance of a time in Wallie’s life that provided the adventure she longed for.

The author does such a wonderful job of putting twists and turns in that I had to sit and read it from cover to cover. I could not go to bed until I had finished it. I truly had no idea who the murderer was or why until near the very end. Well done. I definitely want to read other books in this series as this was a prequel to the Austin Star Mystery series. This is a book for adults, but I would recommend it to young adults because it is a clean read with the occasional swear word.

indas Book Obsession Reviews, “After You’ve Gone” “An Austin Starr Mystery Prequel” by Kay Kendall, Stairway Press, Apache Junction, February 2019

Kay Kendal , Author of “After You’ve Gone” ‘An Austin Starr Mystery Prequel” has written an intriguing, exciting, suspenseful ,enthralling, and witty novel. The Genres for this Novel are Fiction, Mystery and Suspense. The timeline for this story is 1923, and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events in the story. This is the time of the Roaring Twenties and Prohibition, Boot-legging and the Mob. The author describes her colorful cast of characters as quirky, complex and complicated.

One of the main characters in the story is Walter MacGregor, know as Wallie. Wallie is spunky, and full of questions, and just happens to be the Grandmother of Austin Starr. Wallie loves Sherlock Holmes books, is curious and inquisitive and imagines being a detective. Wallie’s Dad is a Judge named Walter MacGregor. Another adorable lovable character is Holler, who is a 6 month old determined and mischievous puppy. Wallie’s Aunt Ida has helped raise Wallie.

Wallie answers the door one morning and meets her Uncle Rory for the first time in his life. He had left shortly after her father and mother had married. Wallie’s mother died in childbirth. Uncle Rory seems to be hiding something, or hiding from someone. Wallie overhears it might have to do to with boot-legging, or having an affair with a married woman.

Suddenly there is a tragic accident. Wallie is convinced it is not an accident. There are strange people, and Wallie starts questioning and looking for clues. There are twists and turns and some things are really unpredictable. Wallie puts herself in grave danger. I enjoyed and found this book to be entertaining. I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy action and suspense.


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PUBLISHED BY LINDASBOOKOBSESSION

MY REVIEW OF “DESOLATION ROW’ by Kay Kendall
I have to blame author Kay Kendall, author of ” DESOLATION ROW’ for the sleepless night I had, so that I could finish reading her novel. I just couldn’t stop reading until I discovered “Who Did It?” so to speak. The genres for “DESOLATION ROW’ are Mystery, Fiction, and in my opinion, Historical Fiction. This novel brought me back to the end of the sixties, and reminded me of so many things.
The year is 1968, and you are living in a foreign country that is supposed to be friendly to Americans. Although the times are turbulent and there is a lot of tension. Many American citizens have come to Canada as Draft Resistors for different reasons. Even within the resistors are factions that are split on how to handle the protests. The war in Vietnam is not like any war in history. Then you have a different political agenda, that of older men that fought during World War Two, and were proud to fight for America.
Now, can you imagine that your nerdy, kind, gentle husband is arrested on suspicion of murder? You really can’t afford an attorney. You don’t have much of a support system. Your parents are in Texas, and not pleased at all that you left with your husband to go to Canada. Well, meet Austin Starr, a 22 young married student who came to Canada with her husband, who was her college boyfriend. Austin seems to have a major problem.
The author describes the characters as complex and complicated. Some characters are angry, unbalanced, jealous, have strong convictions, and some characters have secrets important to protect. There are a number of characters who could be suspect in murdering a Draft Resistor that was not really well liked. What is the motivation and why?
Austin turns to her Russian Professor and his daughter for help in finding who the “real killer is. Visiting her husband in the desolate jail spurs her on to look for clues.There are twists and turns and threats and danger. Then there is another murder.
I appreciate the way Kay Kendall describes the history, the characters, and the intriguing plot. Having lived during this era, I felt like I was revisiting the past. There is the discussion of corrupt politicians, and the upcoming election, when Richard Nixon was running for president.
The author also discusses how any war changes the lives of the people who come home and their families. To quote Kay Kendall,” While the past was set in stone the future was framed by hope and possibility.” The author describes the importance of family, peace love, hope and faith.
I really tried to follow the clues, but I was surprised to find who the murderer is.
I highly recommend this intriguing and thought-provoking novel for readers who have a passion for life in the sixties and for anyone who loves a mystery with suspense and intrigue. I received a copy for my honest opinion.

MY REVIEW OF “RAINY DAY WOMEN’ by KAY KENDALL
KUDOS to Kay Kendall , author of “Rainy Day Woman” for amazing, memorable descriptions of the late sixties. I can hear the music, Bob Dylan, and Peter, Paul and Mary. The sixties were the time of the Vietnam protests and draft dodgers, hippies, Woodstock, feeling free, and woman’s liberation. The author depicts the sense of the sixties perfectly. The genres of this book are Mystery and Fiction.
The author describes the characters as complicated and complex. This was a time of wanting to be independent, involved with significant causes, and the importance of feeling free. The main character, Austin Starr is combining the roles of wife, young mother to a three-month old and student. Austin has some CIA training and in the first book Austin helped solve a crime. I love the way the author starts the story,”I STOOD, CAREFUL not to make any noise, afraid to waken the sleeping ogre.”…..”What did it matter if my escape took ten minutes? Breaking free was what counted.” Now I was on edge, wanting to know what was going on. The author has a gift of telling her story and describing her characters.
Austin gets a call from a close friend, who is a suspect in a murder. Austin reminds me of a grown Nancy Drew, and has the need to help her friend. Austin and her husband live in Canada. Although her husband is not officially a draft dodger, his beliefs are against fighting and war. He is a graduate student at the University in Canada. Austin convinces her husband David to let her go and provide support for her friend, but she has to take her three-month old baby with her. David warns her to stay out of trouble and leave the investigating to the proper officials. Austin will be staying with her friend’s family.
Austin’s friend is a member of a group of women who are supportive of women’s liberation The murdered victim was a member as well. Austin’s friend works in a chemistry laboratory, and there is tremendous tension and competition at work. There are a number of characters who could be suspect for the murder.
I appreciate that the author brings up relevant topics of the times: women’s liberation and equality, and feelings about fighting and war. Other topics that were discussed were incest, and homosexuality. The tension and hostility of the times, and the way the characters responded to it is part of historical significance.
I really enjoyed, the mystery, the intrigue, and the adventure and would highly recommend this entertaining and captivating novel. I received a copy for my honest review.

Rainy Day Women is like a stroll through the late 60s (or a flashback but I digress) with an exciting mystery thrown in. This is my introduction to both Kay Kendall and her protagonist Austin Starr, and I will be reading more.

The writing is very good and establishes a wonderful atmosphere which sets the stage for the action. The characters are well developed and Starr is a character it is hard not to like. All together these elements create an appealing foundation. The mystery had twists and turns aplenty and kept you reading.

Definitely recommended for lovers of mysteries and those who might like to walk through their memories of the 60s.

Reviewed from an ARC made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

t is a time of women's freedom, a time of Woodstock, Charles Manson, and the Apollo moon landing. It is 1969 an amateur sleuth, Austin Starr, along with her infant son, are on their way to clear her best friends name. Her friend, Larissa is a suspect in the death of a woman's activist leader, she served the tea that was poisoned, at a meeting that all the women were. Austin and her husband David moved to Canada because they didn't believe in the Vietnam War, so David was a draft dodger. Austin had worked with the CIA, in the previous book Desolation Row, so she had some detective skills. Her husband is not real crazy about her gallivanting off to Seatle to help out her friend but he 'allows' her to go. The only way she can go is take their three-month son, Wyatt, along with her. This had to have been a lot harder to do in 1969 then it is now.

This is a time where women are still under their husbands thumb, but this is a also a time when all of how a woman is treated is changing, they are now able to pursue an education and work outside of the home. There is a big movement across the country at this time of women's liberation. There are men who do not agree that a woman should have these types of freedom. I was 16 in 1969 and by the time I was 18 women's lib was full blown. I got on the bandwagon; it was exciting. Also, this was a magical time, a lot of changes in the world going on.

Austin arrives to help find out who killed Shona and why. She is told by her previous mentor not to investigate, but she does not comply, she tries but is too determined to find out what is going on and when another female college student is found murdered, Austin feels that these two cases are intertwined as Shona had been friends with the second victim. The race is on, and when Larissa is beaten up, things get real for Austin, and it makes her more determined, against her husband's wish.

I enjoyed this story; It brought back a lot of memories of a turbulent era. I could just hear Eric Clapton, Jimmy Hendrix, and Janis Joplin, long flowing hair and flower power. Watching the news with daily broadcasts of war images when I came home from school. That aside, I also enjoyed the plot, women's lib mixed with a murder mystery, active women who are determined to do what they feel is right. I look forward to Austin's growth as a character in the next installment of this story.

I received a copy of the book for review and was not monetarily compensated for my review.
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Maybe I should have read the first book. This one was kind of blah, not particularly a mystery as you could figure out the plot by about one quarter of the way in. The characters were not engaging and I found the heroine just whiney. She complained about everyone else's mood swings but didn't seem to notice her own. I didn't like her constant lying to her husband who was only concerned about her and their child. If she was an adult she would be honest with him - she never told him she had been in training in the CIA and had people after her now? Really?
The story takes place in my era so that was fairly interesting and the cover is great, but it wasn't my cup of tea. I received this as an ARC from the author for an honest opinion.

A smart mystery … The clever structure, remarkable dialog, and subplots result in a wholly satisfying read. Packs a considerable punch. … Readers will look forward to seeing more of Kendall, with her formidable intellect, tart sense of humor, and resolute sense of justice. Unexpectedly magnificent. The author has written a story that engages you in the characters first and the mystery is the subplot.

This is a mystery wrapped up in a very heartfelt story driven by wonderful characters. I didn't want to do anything but keep reading. Kendall really knows how to weave a story together and keep the reader entertained and curious about the final outcome.

I think this writer is exceptional. The book is clean as well as entertaining. Kay Kendall is a writer to watch. I highly recommend it.