The Hayloft: A 1950s Mystery “The Hayloft,” a mystery set in the 1950s, is a wonderful way to spend some time. Alan Cook has brought to life characters you will want to get to know better. From Gary Blanchard, a young man who is kicked out of one school just to attend another where his cousin Ralph died, to Kate Drucquer, his distant English cousin who takes a liking to Gary’s younger brother. The story unfolds when high school all-star Ralph falls to his death off the balcony of the Carter High School auditorium. His cousin, Gary, ends up attending the same high school quickly discovering there are some things that do not make sense about Ralph’s death and finding there is more than one mystery hidden at Carter High School. There are several subplots in this beautifully written story. “The Hayloft” takes place in the 1950s, when the country was trying to root out communist sympathizers. The school principal threatens to kick Gary out of school unless he spies on one of his classmates, Sylvia. Gary, under the threat of being kicked out of a second high school, tells the principal only things that he could easily have discovered by himself. You will meet Barney and learn about a game of nim played with milk cartons. Then there are Gary’s distant cousins from England, Kate and Ed. Ed tries to befriend Gary and shares with him a second mystery – that of a supposedly missing diamond necklace. Ed shares with Gary a map that their cousin, Ralph, had drawn for him showing the hiding place of the necklace. The story does not stop there. It is only beginning to get interesting. As Gary, with the help of Sylvia, discovers more about Ralph’s death, he becomes certain it wasn’t an accident but murder. As he works to prove who did it and how, he places himself in increasing danger. “The Hayloft” has more to offer than just a mystery. There are also make-out sessions in the hayloft, slow dancing, an almost-deadly fire, and much more. You will be glad you took an afternoon or an evening and spent it with the world Alan Cook has created for us in “The Hayloft.” |
Quick Links
Sign up for email updates Services for authors
Literary awards and contests
PreViews
Inside Scoop Live
Stories by Meme
Reader Views Kids
Authors Access Forum
Book giveaway
Associates |
Along with our book reviews we offer affordable services to meet the needs of our authors in the growing book publishing industry. Our service packages are budget friendly, effective, and will assist the author in showcasing their book to the reading audience.
The annual literary awards honor writers who self-publish or have their books published by a small press or independent book publisher.
Watch quality video trailers of books that communicate the ambiance of the publication and help you make literary choices.
Inside Scoop Live is the leader in providing a vehicle for the author to talk to the reading audience and the audience to hear what the author has to say. Join in and listen to the most fascinating discussions with "cream-of-crop" writers about current and social issues, finances, self-improvement, romance, mortality and much more.
Cool Stories for Cool Kids! Kids can listen to stories, read by Meme, on their computer or download mp3 files.
Reader Views Kids provides book reviews, by kids, for kids. This site is geared toward children's books and majority of the reviews are by children. 
Authors Access is a joint project with Loving Healing Press. Each week we bring insightful interviews from people around the world who can help you get your work published, and if already published, noticed. The show is podcast on Authors View Radio. 
Each month Reader Views, in partnership with publishers and authors, are having a book giveaway.
