For Glory

by Elisabeth Lee

Carlyle Hudson is a 50-something woman everybody calls Lyle. Making a living as a gambler, Lyle doesn't know quite what to make of her life. Lyle returns to Kansas from San Francisco after the death of her mother and encounters two mysteries, one from her mother's past, and one right in front of her. Who is the source of the ominous demands that she 'Pay Up'?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1419650467
• ISBN13: 9781419650468
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Booksurge Publishing
• Length: 346 Pages
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

A Fun Read with Fun Characters

While I may not be a member of Lee's true target audience with this book, I really enjoyed the story. For Glory is more than a mystery, it's a story of what happens to Carlyle Hudson when she goes home to Kansas after her mother's death to pick up the pieces. Lyle has a newly acquired house and bridal shop that she's not quite sure what to do with, not to mention a little Smooth-haired Fox Terrier named Glory that she seemingly has no desire to put up with. And naturally, you know a man will come into the picture sooner or later, too. Lee's gift is writing strong characters, and that includes the little dog, Glory! Lyle is full of spunk with a lot of attitude, and you soon see that all of the Hudson women (Lyle and her three aunts, Luce, Loretta and Lenore) are quite a hilarious bunch. While I enjoyed getting to know them, and the story in general, I felt like the two mysteries in the story were a little lacking. Not in actual excitement, of course, but in terms of how they were all figured out. To me, this wasn't your typical "whodunnit" story where the reader is right there trying to figure out who the culprit is. The evidence really wasn't presented in a way that the reader could pick up on all the clues, in my opinion. I noticed some suspicious actions by characters at times, but couldn't figure out what any motives would be. And why random acts of burglary by young thugs seemed to happen with great frequency to Lyle I'll never understand. Overall, though, it was a light, entertaining read that will certainly get you laughing. And everything is resolved quite nicely at the end, and for me that's when the pieces really started falling together and everything made sense. I guess the sleuth in me just likes to be able to figure it all out as I go.

subtle mystery

Meet Carlyle "Lyle" Hudson, Fifty years old, WPT Poker player and single by choice, She is headed home to Kansas. Lyle's mother died in her sleep, and she is back in Kansas to settle up things. The house, her mother's business, and "Glory" the dog are all left to Lyle. The story line centers around Lyle and her aunts, Lenore, Loretta, and Luce, It seems the Hudson family had a thing with the letter "L" except Carlyle, who politely goes by "Lyle". From the beginning, Lyle meets trouble head on. From a Professional Poker player in San Francisco, she becomes a women detective in Kansas. What is the mystery from her mother's past that is now showing up in Lyle's life and who is out there now demanding that she pay up? This is a subtle mystery. Lyle is quite the character. Does she sell the house and business? Lyle will make you laugh at some of the things she gets herself into.

It's Excellent

One of my favorite things about book reviewing is discovering books I definitely would have missed. Writing a review encourages me branch out in my literary appetite, and discover new authors, series or genres. Still I was apprehensive when asked to review For Glory by Elisabeth Lee which centers around a fifty something protagonist. I'm on the wrong side of twenty five myself, but wasn't sure that I wanted to read about a female detective you may remind me more of my mother than someone I could identify with. But if Carlyle Hudson is any indication of a middle aged detective, bring it on. Carlyle "Lyle" Hudson, is confident, desirable, and smart. The book centers on Lyle who projects a tough exterior. She thwarts and threatens a mugger early on the story for instance. But those who know her, like her gaggle of L named aunts, Lenore, Loretta, and Luce, or at times her inherited dog "Glory" are treated to her softer more vulnerable side. The story opens in Kansas where Lyle is on a losing streak alluding to the fact she's a professional gambler and has just lost her mom who died unexpectedly. The very metropolitan, Lyle, who hails from San Francisco, is tying up loose ends when she finds a few of her mother's items that intrigue her--mainly a gun and some bizarre correspondence. Things begin to heat up once a wedding dress is taken for ransom, and Lyle meets a guy or two. Lyle's first person narrative asks a lot of open ended rhetorical questions, at times I wanted to roll my eyes, we get it Lyle, you're thoughtful. I was also a couple of chapters in before I realized I had picked up a mystery novel. Though Lyle is nothing if not witty, a suspenseful nail biter this isn't. Think a natural progression of Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon (same self-assured personality)with a much lighter tone. In fact For Glory is unlike books typical of the detective novel or mystery genre. It is a smart break from all those young, spoiled and dramatic characters hogging the literary limelight. Take this book to the beach, and look for the next in the series, Flashes of Glory this summer.

A real treat

It's been quite a while since I've read anything that flows so smoothly, catches the reader up so intensely and ends so satisfactorily. Lee is an artist of the most rare kind, bringing to life not only her characters (including the animals!) but bringing to life the commonly-understated lands of Kansas. While wrapped up in Lyle's life's adventures one experiences the world of Kansas with depth, truth, and with affection it is difficult to feel. It is an excellent read, smooth and precise, with Time moving as gracefully as can be told in a story. Bravo, Lee. Bravo.