Deadly Descent: A Lottie Albright Mystery

Charlotte Hinger
Poisoned Pen Press (2009)
ISBN 9781590586464
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (9/09)

 

“Deadly Descent” is a read that will get your attention from page one.  Lottie Albright works for the Historical Society delving into people’s pasts, their most intimate details and hate of each other.  In a town where gossip travels fast, Lottie finds herself thrown into the lives of two feuding sisters. 
Not wanting to be in this position Lottie finds that someone has been in her office rummaging through files and an important historical document is gone.  Fretful, Lottie feels like someone is out to get her and it doesn’t set well with her. Right after meeting with one of the feuding sisters- one sister is found dead. The other blames Lottie and her snooping ways.

Lottie has married an older man much to her twin sister’s chagrin. Her husband comes with older daughters, one of which is very spiteful toward Lottie and isn’t afraid of showing it.  Trying to keep the peace in the family, Lottie ignores the jabs from the daughter. She still is concerned that important documents are still missing.

Feeling that the investigation from the local sheriff on missing documents is not going fast enough, Lottie takes a big step and decides she wants to become a part-time deputy sheriff. Little does she know that in spite of her well-laid plans, she is in more danger than she thought and her marriage is very rocky.

Charlotte Hinger, the author of this great read, has set the scene from page one. Her description of her characters, events and scenes are ones you can visualize. She adds in subtle events of death, mystery and hidden agendas that will make you play the part of detective. Just when you think you have solved the mystery, another subtle detail comes in.  Will all of this mysterious action be the death of Lottie? Readers will love reading the detailed plots, plans and devious behaviors by all in “Deadly Descent.”

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