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A winter storm. A lost child. A missing father. What happened that night on The Devil’s Backbone?
As Thanksgiving of 1957 approaches, a freak ice storm blows into Colinas, paralyzing the town. When newspaper owner Ruth Harnett discovers a little boy lying half frozen outside the hardware store, the search for his family widens into a murder investigation that takes Sheriff Hutch Joyner to the Louisiana bayou country, to a confrontation with a crooked sheriff, and the story of a missing woman that may or may not be connected to his case.
When someone runs Ruth’s car off the road, Hutch’s investigation turns personal. As his inquiry continues and clues mount, his search for justice points to a suspect no one saw coming.
Known for her novels that blend history, mystery and romance, veteran author Dorothy Love delivers another immersive and heart-felt story (after A QUIET LITTLE TOWN) set in the picturesque Hill Country during America’s golden age.
What readers are saying about the Colinas County Mysteries:
“A beautifully told tale. Readers of small town mysteries will be delighted.” Kay Bratt, International Bestselling Author
“One of those rare historical mysteries that feels both richly immersive and quietly powerful. Dorothy Love’s writing is evocative and meticulously researched…A standout historical whodunit I will be thinking about for a long time.” Leanne on Goodreads
“Immersive, beautifully descriptive writing…if you enjoy character-driven mysteries, this is for you.” Sarah Murphy Goodreads
“A dog named Friday stole my heart.” Amazon reader
An Amazon bestseller.
“An outstanding mystery…a compelling portrait of a quiet little town’s big secrets.” Midwest Book Review
1956. Nestled in the picturesque Texas hill country, Colinas is a charming little town where everyone knows everyone, or so they think.
When the body of wealthy businessman Sonny Guthrie is discovered in an abandoned quarry, suspicion immediately falls on Gilberto Munoz, a resident of the Little Mexico neighborhood. The investigation falls to Sheriff Hutch Joyner, a quiet, principled man shaped by hardship. A survivor of a brutal WW 2 POW camp, and a widower still grieving his loss, Hutch believes in justice tempered with mercy. With Friday, his faithful golden retriever by his side, he begins to pull at the town’s carefully-knotted secrets. But his inquiry has barely begun when Munoz is found floating in the Big Stone River with a knife in his back.
As tempers flare, and accusations and suspicions multiply, Hutch finds solace in his deep friendship with Ruth Harnett, a young war widow who owns the town newspaper and is bringing up her young son alone.
Also caught up in the case are Guthrie’s enigmatic widow Sarita; a nightclub dancer with a secret lover; a beloved football hero who has something to hide; and a retired Texas Ranger whose idea of justice leaves little room for restraint. Hutch’s investigation of a double murder soon becomes something deeper: a reckoning with prejudice, guilt, and buried loyalties, and the cost of silence in a town determined to protect its image.
Latest Posts
- Welcome to my world of history, mystery, and romanceYou’re here! Thanks for coming by. If you love historical fiction blended with generous dollops of mystery and romance, I invite you to explore my Books page. Whether your preferred time period is the 1800’s or the 1960’s or somewhere in between, I hope you’ll find stories to engage your imagination and touch your heart. My books often deal with serious subjects, but you won’t find a lot of graphic violence or objectionable language in these pages. In a career… Read more: Welcome to my world of history, mystery, and romance
- How my meeting with a President’s granddaughter sparked a new novelIn 1996 I was a guest author at a book event in Ohio where I met Susan Eisenhower. I was there to promote my first novel for young readers. Susan was there to promote her memoir about her grandmother, Mamie. The story of what we have in common and how it led to my forthcoming novel is the subject of today’s INSIDE STORY Substack email newsletter. You can read it for free, and subscribe to receive twice-monthly newsletters ( also… Read more: How my meeting with a President’s granddaughter sparked a new novel
Now Available
A Season in Saigon
When an honest mistake shreds her professional reputation, fashion writer Tallis Reed heads to Saigon intending to salvage her career by reporting the war’s hidden stories. But in a wary city teeming with refugees and orphans, soldiers and spies, truth is elusive and danger is an ever-present shadow.
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More about A Season in Saigon.
Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Gray
The story of the extraordinary friendship between Mrs. Robert E Lee and her servant Selina Gray that transcended race, class, culture, and the tumult of war.
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