Into the Fire

The Inheritance by Mark Dawson is Book 5 of An Atticus Priest Mystery Series. 

Atticus Priest becomes involved in a strange occurrence while farmer Jack Turnbull is plowing his field readying it for seed. When Jack dismounts his tractor to investigate the visible white object sticking up through the dirt, within minutes he's on the phone to the cops. When it's realized this is a job for archaeologists, a professor (Ellie) is called to determine the age of not just the one skull, but as they sift through the dirt, they find two more. 

Atticus' part in that investigation reveals more than expected due to his sharp study of an obscure piece also found at the site. With his assistant's (Jez's) help, Jez learns even more from another historical brainiac and associate of Ellie's.

In the meantime, Atticus is approached by a Countess about her missing husband. He initially tries to refrain but gets caught up in the family intrigue. Viscount Rupert Ainsley is missing the day after a family meeting and argument where he announces he's planning to change his will. None of the family is satisfied with his plan except for his oldest son (Henry) who would be Rupert's trustee over whatever amount he determines to leave in the trust after making a way for the vast estate to stay in the Ainsley family. His efforts to buy off existing farms of struggling farmers has caused protests and feuds and makes a historic connection.

Known only to family, Atticus, and the police, Rupert has been diagnosed with dementia. Henry sets out to look for his dad while the other half-sister and half-brothers cover areas familiar to their father. When they can't find him, they receive other traumatic news from the police, and chaos reigns in the Ainsley household.

Atticus has pursued another angle after receiving permission to search Rupert's study. What he learns from his pursuit leads him to yet another path that ultimately points to who is causing the trouble in the Ainsley household. When the police and Atticus gather the family together to pinpoint exactly what's happened, the unexpected disruption explodes and then . . . a cliffhanger.  

Atticus Priest is still one of my all-time favorite characters even as he seeks to better himself, having learned about his personality traits that need some work. He's trying. He's unique and captivating in what he observes in people, and the only one who can make him doubt himself is his lady-love "Mack." Knowing he can cause her trouble with his investigations, he does his best to sidestep difficult revelations until he's absolutely sure of his conclusions. 

The Inheritance is perhaps a typical story of one generationally wealthy family with little regard for anyone outside of their personal interests. The multiple mysteries within this story combined with the mostly distasteful family members makes for an interesting read and leads us on to wait for the next installment.   

(Some profanity present.)

Highly Recommend this series. 

Father, please continue to bless Mark's storytelling and supply whatever he needs to tell these stories well. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord . . . 

Psalm 33:12a (NIV) 

ONE NATION UNDER GOD. 

Still trying to keep it that way for one more season of His determination. 

Remember this: IT'S INDEPENDENCE DAY! 

Father, you've given us more time on this earth. Let us usher in revival in the land before you must say, "Enough!" In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

In print or for e-books. Published in 2022. 

Thank you, Lord, this one was a joy to write. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Have a joyous birthday, my firstborn son! May the Lord pour out His Spirit upon you and shower you with His love. I love you, Donovan Colt! 

Lyrics matter. Listen and sing: Let Freedom Ring! 

Father, thank you for the artists who dedicate their lives and creations to you. Bless them, Lord. Please. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Vanished Trails by L.T. Ryan and C.R. Gray is Book 4 in A Maddie Castle Thriller Series.

When formerly estranged best friend Harper, Detective in the police force, refers a family with a missing 18 yr. old daughter (Liz) to hire Maddie and her K-9 Tempest to go through the woodsy trails where their 18 yr. old daughter was last seen with a bunch of her friends, the girl's father is none too happy to hear about the possibility that the police bloodhounds did their job when they lost her scent and couldn't find her. Maddie agrees to the job with Harper running interference for her and together they do interviews of the teens who were on the trip. Maddie does a quick study of Liz's social media and is surprised to find the missing girl was not a nice person, to put it mildly, and had plenty of enemies. The interviews sound very similar, but Maddie doesn't get her "killer vibe" from any of them. 

The campsite and trek through the woods is a 7-mile hike. Bentley, Maddie's best friend and undefined "boyfriend," goes with her. When they finally set up camp for the night, Bentley reasons with Maddie about handling the tragedy that occurred in Book 3 of this series. As always, she's reluctant to admit that she needs to open up and deal with it, but somehow she makes an effort. 

There's an unwelcome surprise waiting for them in the morning when Maddie wakes up inside their tent. Tempest is on guard and that's the last thing needed in this situation. Ironically, the result leads to the first clue as to Liz's disappearance. 

There's a lot of emotional backstory that must be revealed through the different encounters, conversations, and revelations going back to the previous story. Plus, the side story that began in the last book about the disappearance of Bentley's young sister-in-law (Daisy) begins to take a more defined possibility in Maddie's search for information about her. Through all of the various discoveries in confronting many issues for Maddie, Harper and Maddie mend the fences of their devastated friendship as Maddie admits she needs some help. 

The ongoing saga of Maddie Castle, her personal history, her present condition, her intuitive abilities, and her determination are captured in each element of her life. The list of things she has to "handle" grows and each one induces emotional pain which she is ill-prepared for. Both Bentley and Harper add unique perceptions and infusions to her story, but she's beginning to realize she might need more. 

Good writing. Good series. Might be too "emotional" for some hardcore mystery/thriller readers. 

Plenty of profanity. 

Father, you know hearts and minds. Please bless these authors with more stories to tell and may each one know who gives them their abilities. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross. 

Colossians 1:15-20 (NIV) 

From my novel Seeing . . . 

A part of Chapter 17

“I have to go east early tomorrow morning. Are you coming or staying?”

     Quiet. “Do I have to go?”

     “No, of course not.”

     “Then I’ll stay and take your calls, clean up the house. May I clean your bathroom?” She tried to look nonchalant but only made it to subservient.

     He laughed. “Believe me, you don’t want to tackle that.”

     “Micah Jones, if you’re going to let me stay here, I plan on earning my keep. If you could just show me where you keep the cleaning supplies, I’ll have this place shining when you get home.”

     The fire warmed the room and made her hair gleam. “Do you have any idea how hard this is going to be for me?”

     “I—” He watched her think through her response. “I don’t want it to be.”

     He sat back hard in his chair. “Do you remember some of our conversations the last time you were here?”

     “Okay, yes.” She jerked up and began to pick up her dishes.

     He sat forward and set his tray aside. He stood and intercepted her as she headed for the kitchen, taking her dishes and setting them on his own. “Sit down. Please.” He took a deep breath. “If this is going to work, you can’t be overreacting to everything I say. You’re going to have to tough it out once in awhile when communication doesn’t go the way you might want it to. Alright?”

     Her pale blue eyes darted away from his, but she sat down on the couch.

     “I’ve grown up about as opposite of you as is probably possible. We don’t think alike, we don’t act alike. Since Jean died I’ve had no problem being alone. Frankly, no woman has caught my eye for more than a first glance. And then I stop to have breakfast and I get a visual image of you as a helpless little girl being raped. Prior to that, all I’d had were verbal declarations of what had happened to some people. It shook me up pretty good.” Micah was still standing, but he sat back on the edge of his chair. “Then you got beat up, and I knew I was supposed to bring you here. We had a pretty good week, and, yeah, I didn’t want to take you back, but I can’t trust my feelings, Bonita. I’ve been lonely so long, and you filled that gap. But that’s not enough. I mean, just you making me feel good about comin’ home. There’s so much more goin’ on here.”  

     “I won’t try to seduce you, Micah Jones. I promise.”

     He barely made out the words. He stood and ran his hand through his hair. “You don’t have to try, Bonita. It’s the elephant in the room. Maybe you don’t remember what you said to me, but I sure do. It’s ringing in my ears right now.” He hadn’t meant for his voice to elevate, and he only realized it when her expression changed. He grabbed the back of his neck with both hands and looked up to the beams. “God!” He clanged the dishes together as he grabbed them and went to the kitchen, shoving them in the sink. He stood there, looking out the window into the dark, his arms stretched tight away from the counter with his hands in a taut grip around it.

     Peace, be still.

     For a moment, he wanted to argue with the Lord, but he succumbed to the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit. He looked at the floor and let go of the counter. He turned to see her at the kitchen entrance. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice under control.

     “If you’ll just let me stay here until I can get some money coming in, then I could move out.”

     He couldn’t help the baffled laugh that escaped. “Bonita, the cost of living over here is twice what it is over there. We’ll work something out, okay? I’m beat. I should be gone before you get up.” He walked past her and started up the stairs but stopped and turned back to her. “You going to be here when I get back?”

     She nodded. “Micah Jones, can you tell me where you keep the cleaning supplies?”

     He stared down at her. “You live here now. You’ll find ‘em.” The fire’s glow reflected in her eyes. He gave her a smile and headed up to bed.

     “Micah Jones,” she called.

     He kept walking. “I know. You’re welcome.”

Father, apart from you, I can do nothing. That's a fact. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Driving the '65 Le Mans Convertible during a Longacres meet. Loved that car. 

Father, thank you for watching over me during those years. I'm so glad you rescued me from myself. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.