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Ebooks - Mystery - |
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The Allegheny Mountain Chronicles |
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 The Allegheny Mountain Chronicles byDavid K. Hartford Order from publisher: Serendipity Systems, 1999 ISBN 0942871324 Reviewed by Nancy Mehl David K. Bradford has intertwined the soul of Sherlock Holmes with that of two unlikely detectives in a series of stories that make up The Allegheny Mountain Chronicles. An independent logger named Longstreet practices his unique brand of laid-back investigation into several mysterious deaths that happen in his own back yard. These tales make up the first series of stories called The Longstreet Stories. Longstreet is a man who makes his home and his living in Westline, Pennsylvania with his wife, Mary. He is a man whose simple lifestyle hides a keen mind, and a love for life in the mountains, where he has found everything he needs to make his life complete. The Longstreet Stories introduce an interesting cast of characters, as well as immerse the reader in the midst of the tall trees and the beauty of the Allegheny Mountains. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I also appreciated the tight story lines and Hartford’s superb writing skills. The only distraction was the need for more editing of this e-book. The second series of stories are set in Vietnam. CID Carl Hatchett investigates the deaths of three servicemen. One is reported as a suicide, but Hatchett knows immediately that something is wrong. There’s no gun near the body. The second serviceman was supposedly killed by the Viet Cong - but how was he shot in the chest when there are no bullet holes in his shirt? The third death is more personal. His best friend "Mitch" Mitchley is found dead in his bunk. The rattlesnake that bit him is curled up next to him. Hatchett is determined to find out if the mysterious phone call he received from Mitch before his death is connected to this devastating "accident." The war in Vietnam, portrayed through Hatchett’s eyes, gives the reader an emotional look into the reality of war. One story in particular brought close the vulnerability of soldiers, who were no more than boys, thrust into the nightmare that was Vietnam. David K. Hartford was born and raised in the mountains of Northwestern Pennsylvania. This gives a compelling realism to his Longstreet Stories. He also served as a Military Police Investigator in Vietnam. His understanding of war gives his characters depth and humanity. The Allegheny Mountain Chronicles left me wanting more. |
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