It’s 1932, Colorado, height of the Great Depression and widowed Trinidad Bates finds her younger brother Parnell accused of murder. As if the situation couldn’t get any worse, she’s used her inherent gift for dowsing to lead local authorities - namely the malevolent Sheriff Mallis - to the bootlegger’s body. A gift that now seems to have deserted “Trini,” leaving her bereft and confused.
Who can she turn to for support and counsel when so many of her neighbors see her as a witch? How can Trini protect Parnell from a sheriff with a disreputable history and an apparent motive for revenge against her brother? How much allegiance does she owe a brother who’s always sought the easy way out, no matter how unscrupulous the turn?
Why now, when she needs it so badly, has the talent she inherited from her beautiful mother disappeared?
Her husband is dead eight months now, her parents years longer. Deputy Roy Eastman seems willing to help - to a point - and Trini’s good friend, Jefferson LeClair, owner of the local mercantile, is sympathetic but has problems brewing of his own.
Author Rebbie Macintyre pulls a bevy of offbeat characters out of a wintry cloak in her debut novel, Cast the First Stone, with enough clever twists to keep the reader guessing “Who done it?” to the last chapter. I sincerely hope Ms. Macintyre revives these characters in future sequels, as this novel left me hungry for romance for Trini and a pass-through wide enough love could easily happen.
Upon reading the novel’s first paragraph, I knew nothing about dowsing - other than what I’d seen in movies: dowser points a Y-shaped branch, branch vibrates…water. There’s obviously so much more to this talent: the discovery of underground water or minerals, location of misplaced objects and missing persons using a twine pendulum, a map and a swaying crystal, branches, or even a dowser’s own hands - and I’m sure that’s the tip of the proverbial iceberg. How fascinating and unique a subject for a novel.
In my opinion, Cast the First Stone (978-1-59414-746-3, hardcover, pp 285) is an enthralling read that will not disappoint, and I look forward to Rebbie Macintyre’s next effort.
Rebbie Macintyre lives in Florida, but considers herself a Westerner at heart. She was born in Kansas and spent childhood summers near Dodge City and in Eastern Colorado where her first novel, CAST THE FIRST STONE, is set. On her way to becoming an author, Rebbie taught high school, counseled troubled children, studied the violin for ten years, performed with a synchronized swimming team, sold office supplies and operated a sludge-sucking vacuum truck. She works out daily and hikes every year in Colorado, Montana and North Carolina. By the way, she can also whistle the opening bars of Beethoven’s Fifth. Is there no end to this author's talent?
Who can she turn to for support and counsel when so many of her neighbors see her as a witch? How can Trini protect Parnell from a sheriff with a disreputable history and an apparent motive for revenge against her brother? How much allegiance does she owe a brother who’s always sought the easy way out, no matter how unscrupulous the turn?
Why now, when she needs it so badly, has the talent she inherited from her beautiful mother disappeared?
Her husband is dead eight months now, her parents years longer. Deputy Roy Eastman seems willing to help - to a point - and Trini’s good friend, Jefferson LeClair, owner of the local mercantile, is sympathetic but has problems brewing of his own.
Author Rebbie Macintyre pulls a bevy of offbeat characters out of a wintry cloak in her debut novel, Cast the First Stone, with enough clever twists to keep the reader guessing “Who done it?” to the last chapter. I sincerely hope Ms. Macintyre revives these characters in future sequels, as this novel left me hungry for romance for Trini and a pass-through wide enough love could easily happen.
Upon reading the novel’s first paragraph, I knew nothing about dowsing - other than what I’d seen in movies: dowser points a Y-shaped branch, branch vibrates…water. There’s obviously so much more to this talent: the discovery of underground water or minerals, location of misplaced objects and missing persons using a twine pendulum, a map and a swaying crystal, branches, or even a dowser’s own hands - and I’m sure that’s the tip of the proverbial iceberg. How fascinating and unique a subject for a novel.
In my opinion, Cast the First Stone (978-1-59414-746-3, hardcover, pp 285) is an enthralling read that will not disappoint, and I look forward to Rebbie Macintyre’s next effort.
Rebbie Macintyre lives in Florida, but considers herself a Westerner at heart. She was born in Kansas and spent childhood summers near Dodge City and in Eastern Colorado where her first novel, CAST THE FIRST STONE, is set. On her way to becoming an author, Rebbie taught high school, counseled troubled children, studied the violin for ten years, performed with a synchronized swimming team, sold office supplies and operated a sludge-sucking vacuum truck. She works out daily and hikes every year in Colorado, Montana and North Carolina. By the way, she can also whistle the opening bars of Beethoven’s Fifth. Is there no end to this author's talent?