Review: “The Hoosegow Strangler” by Camille LaGuire

by Carol13 Comments
Right now, my problem is that I'm in the middle of Empire Falls by Richard Russo, a great book, but a slow read for me for some reason. Anyway, one day I forgot it, but had my Kindle with me  and had picked up Have Gun, Will Play by Camille LaGuire, so I started it, and I'm really getting a kick out of it, but want to finish Empire Falls first. The point is, the LaGuire book is about a couple of gun-slingers in the Old West, Mick and his young wife, Casey, great characters, so when I found "The Hoosegow Strangler" the first story featuring the couple, I had to read it. At heart, it's a locked room mystery. Mick and Casey had been hired to guard a witness, Albert Wilkins, who ends up dead. The only way into the room is through a locked door and the hallway and stairs are being guarded by Mick and Casey. They don't...
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Eating out: Scaffidi’s

by Carol11 Comments
The other day we ate at Scaffidi's, a local Italian restaurant. It's actually one of Amber's favorite spots; in her opinion, they have the best gnocchi anywhere. It's a cute little place, only 8 tables, but they do offer carryout. The menu is not overly extensive, but the pasta's homemade and everything I have had has been delicious. Just a note, though, as far as I know they don't serve beer or wine, which is a little unusual. We were actually lucky to get seated as soon as we walked in. I guess they're moving later this year, to the old Lenore's building for any of you who are local, so hopefully they'll have more space then. They serve bread and butter, and David had a really nice, fresh salad, but I'm going to skip straight to our entrees, since that's the part I consider most important. Amber had the gnocchi of course, but she just gets it plain, only butter, not...
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“At Manny’s”

by Carol8 Comments
Image credit: At Manny's 358 words Brad glanced behind him. He knew he was being paranoid, that the eyes he felt watching him didn't exist, that the footsteps he heard echoing his own on the empty street were in his imagination, but he couldn't help it. The document he carried in a manila envelope shoved deep in the inside pocket of his duster was making him nervous. He hadn't been stupid enough to read it, he was after all just a well-paid delivery boy, but Johnson had made it very clear that he was being trusted with dangerous information. Brad pushed in the door of Manny's bar, cigarette smoke hitting him in the face along with the smell of stale beer. He actually liked the hole-in-the-wall, he felt at home here with the lack of pretensions, the tendency of the patrons to mind their own business. No questions, no small talk. His gaze settled on the booth in the far back corner. A woman...
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Friday’s Tale: Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett

by Carol7 Comments
Image Source: Weingart Design I guess June's going to be Tall Tale month on Fridays. Today's character is one of my favorites, even if she's not one of the most well-known. Women back int he America's early days had it just as tough as the men. They helped build cabins and clear land. They hauled water and hunted for food. Davy Crockett done married the prettiest, the sassiest, the toughest gal in the West, don't ya know! Her name was Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind and she was all that and then some! She was tougher than a grumpy she-bear and faster than a wildcat with his tail on fire and sweeter than honey, so that even hornets would let her use their nest for a Sunday-go-to-Meeting hat. One story tells of a bet between Mike Fink and Davy Crockett. Mike Fink bets a dozen wild-cats he can scare Sally Ann half to death. Davy Crockett, knowing his wife quite well, takes Mike...
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