Thicker Than Water

by Rett MacPherson

Book Overview

A mysterious postcard from the late 1920s sparks Missouri genealogist Tori O'Shea to delve into a decades-old vendetta.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312334087
• ISBN13: 9780312334086
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

A GOOD SERIES CONTINUES

I felt this was one of the better books in an already very good series. I have always enjoyed this particular writer and this particular series and she, the author, seems to be getting better and better at her craft. As with the other Torie O'Shea Mystries, we have a mixture of history, mystery, domestic life in a small town and humor. This novel moves fast and has some nice twists. It can certainly be classified as "easy reading" and I found it quite enjoyable. If you are looking for a good, light read, one to take pleasure in, then I highly recommend this one and do hope the author keep them coming.

Nice easy going series

I love Tori O'Shea, somehow I can so relate to her. I like the way that this book was pulled together and really enjoyed the fact that we learned so much more about Sylvia. I also liked the fact that Tori became her own person in the end. If you have not read this series, you might want to start with the first so you will be familiar with all the characters. Keep them coming Ms. MacPherson.

Looking forward to the next one

Having read the entire series, I find it intresting that I identify with Torie as much as I do, even though my life is nothing at all like hers. I deducted a point for the heavy-handed way in which Rudi's mom was handled, as well as for limiting Eleanore's "columns" to only a couple early on - I've always looked forward to them during my reading. That leads into a point that struck me as contradictory - perhaps another reviewer could clear it up, aqnd if anyone feels I'm "giving away a plot twist" I apologize (although I really don't think so): Eleanore's column says it is unfair that Jalena wins a contest "no longer living in town to move to Wisteria to be with her new husband" - later Colin mentions he's going to run for Mayor against the incumbent. Ummmm .... he's not a New Kassel resident yet no one in the story seems to question that? Are "mayors" in MO elected county-wide or something? A kudo to Torie for "doing the right thing" at the end! I knew she would though.

Another historical mystery from Missouri

New Kassel, Missouri, won't be the same without Sylvia Pershing, and neither will Victory "Torie" O'Shea's life. Sylvia was her boss, her mentor, and (in spite of their differences in age and temperament), her friend. Now Sylvia has died at the age of 102, and she's left everything to Torie: money, mementos, rental properties, and the Gaheimer House, the home of the historical society. The younger woman realizes how little she really knows about Sylvia as she goes through her possessions. Too soon she finds out that some of the other town residents don't hold Sylvia in as high esteem as she does. Someone obviously hated the woman and now has transferred that hate to Torie, for an as-yet-unknown reason. She's physically attacked, and items are stolen from the Gaheimer House. And just about everyone is beginning to treat Torie differently. Torie believes the underlying secret has something to do with photos of a little girl she's found among Sylvia's things. As she researches their background, she's led to some very interesting discoveries: about Sylvia, about the Gaheimer House, and about her hometown. The first moral of the story is: before you die, mark all your photos for your descendents to understand. The second moral is: you truly do not know everything there is to know about someone until you walk in her shoes.

entertaining amateur sleuth

Genealogist and historical tour guide Torie O'Shea and her spouse return from vacation to their home in New Kassel, Missouri where she learns that her employer Sylvia Pershing passed away at one hundred and two. Torie grieves her loss because she truly loved her cantankerous but honest boss and thought the senior citizen would be around forever. Shockingly at least to Torie, she inherits Sylvia's wealthy estate including the historical Gaheimer House. Torie begins the monumental task of cataloguing the many boxes filled with objects letters, pictures and other documents dating back over eight decades. However, one odd 1920s postcard with a picture of a young girl on the front and a strange message on the back that says "I think you have forgotten your promise" surprises Torie as the two sides do not gel. The genealogist soon learns that Sylvia hired a private detective. Unable to resist especially as she begins to wonder if her boss was murdered, Torie seeks the truth of today and of what happened in the late 1920s, but someone very much alive wants her to stop or she and her extended family members will die. The latest Torie O'Shea is an entertaining amateur sleuth novel though describing the heroine as an amateur seems wrong due to her skills developed as a genealogist. The story line focuses on Torie's investigation with amusing asides and intrusions by her extended FAMILY SKELETONS, who bring out the best and worst in the lead protagonist. Rett MacPherson provides a wonderful tale in which the heroine relearns that blood may be THICKER THAN WATER, but flows as freely when significant promise are broken. Harriet Klausner