Livia J. Washburn

When the poll for our monthly read in the American Western group I’m in came along last month, it seemed a rare occasion when I would have been happy with any of the choices. I finally voted for this one because it seemed the most underrepresented as per reviews, especially on Amazon. Now that I’ve read it, I’m certainly glad I came across it.

This is a Western in the old-fashioned tradition. It even has some pulp elements in the plot, and the quick flow of the story. Whether it was a show more conscious choice or not for author Livia J. Washburn, I felt this was close to a well-written homage to some of the better dime westerns of old, when you’d run across an author whom you’d never heard of, and finally put the book down thinking it had been a surprisingly good read. Bandera Pass is like that.

There is really nothing new under the sun where the Western genre is concerned, which is one of the elements that draws most people to the American Western. The moral integrity and codes of honor, the values so in conflict with modern times, is what attracts readers to the time-honored genre. There’s some of that in Bandera pass, making this a familiar — in the good way — and enjoyable Western read set in Texas in 1874. Most of it takes place in Bandera County, where thirty-three years earlier a famous ambush occurred at Bandera Pass.

The book opens with a nightmare Sheriff Samuel Knight is having, that will eventually tie into the narrative of two Texas Rangers named Hank Littleton and Joe Casebolt. They are chasing down a former member of the now defunct State Police who has turned outlaw. But before they set out after him, the old and seasoned Casebolt, and the young but sharp Hank have a whale of a time bringing in the Kimbrough gang. The action is well written and it’s exciting when Hank and Joe are ambushed at Medina River while trying to bring the gang back for trial. A humorous and eventually poignant element is introduced because Casebolt has a toothache he isn’t exactly in a hurry to have looked at.

The author is obviously familiar with the Texas landscape and does a good job of describing the area as the Rangers head for Bandera County. There they meet up with the aforementioned Sheriff Knight, his wife Faye, and more importantly for Hank, his young and foolish daughter, Victoria. What Sam’s nightmare is about is revealed, and it will play a role by the end of the narrative in a psychological twist the reader won’t see coming.

A lot of work went into making this an easy, breezy read. I was worried for a while as a romance began to bloom between Hank and Victoria, that it would become mired in the typical unassuming cowboy falling for the spirited — i.e., annoying and foolish — but pretty girl. It’s to the author’s credit that she instead used that element of the story to show that there are consequences for foolish and headstrong actions in these days, and sometimes they can be deadly. In this case, they are very sad.

This one has a stagecoach robbery, some exciting posse action, and a twist most won’t see coming. The ending is terrific, making this a good one. Bandera Pass has an old-fashioned, dime-western kind of feel to it. Low-key but breezy, with some good action sequences, Bandera Pass delivers the goods. An enjoyable read for fans of the traditional Westerns of old. show less

Summer is upon Weatherford, Texas, and retired history teacher Phyllis Newsom has a lot on her plate. She is busily trying to prepare a recipe for her entry in the cooking contest at the Parker County Peach Festival. In addition, she is worried about the declining health of her boarder and fellow retired teacher, Mattie Harris and is welcoming a new boarder, retired basketball coach Sam Fletcher into her house.

While picking peaches with Mattie, the owner of the peach orchard, Newt Bishop, is show more killed when the car he is working on falls on him. Newt didn't have the car on blocks and his death could have been an accident, but Phyllis has the nagging sensation that someone threw the jack lever, murdering Newt. Phyllis soon learns there was no love lost between Newt and his son, Darryl. Alfred Landers, a local realtor, had once lost a lawsuit to Newt Bishop over a piece of land that was prime real estate property. Newt's official cause of death is listed as undetermined.

Phyllis is busy finalizing her recipe for a spicy peach cobbler for the cooking contest. She has a friendly rivalry with another of her boarders, Carolyn Wilbarger. Both want the blue ribbon in the peach cooking contest. On the day of the contest, one of the judges, Donnie Boatwright, drops dead right after sampling Phyllis' cobbler, and this time, the death is ruled a homicide. Donnie Boatwright was well-known in the community, but he had made his share of enemies, including Carolyn Wilbarger and her daughter, Sandra Webster. Phyllis is sure her friend Carolyn is not a murderer and works with Sam Fletcher to investigate Donnie Boatwright's death. She learns that Boatwright was the sole heir to his mother's will, which left him a small fortune and cut out his brother and sister.

Phyllis has a feeling the two deaths are connected, but she doesn't see how. Then, a young teacher is deliberately struck by a car in the school parking lot and nearly killed, and slowly Phyllis begins to piece together how the incidents in her small town are connected to one another.

I actually read the second book in this series, "Murder By the Slice" first, so I was somewhat familiar with the main characters, i.e. Phyllis and her roommates. While this book is well-written, the conclusion seems far-fetched. I did figure it out, but I found the second book to have a much nicer solution. I liked the small town setting and the setting at the Peach Festival as I grew up in a small town in Texas and definitely have been to my share of festivals. I only give this book three stars because of the conclusion to the mystery, which I find messy and unsatisfactory. However, the writing is top-notch. show less

The Gingerbread Bump-off by Livia J. Washington is delicious page turner and would be a great book to read during the holidays.

This is my first time to read a Livia J. Washington cozy but it won't be my last. Now I want to read all of the series. This author knows how to engage you from the beginning and keep you hooked until the end. There were at least four red herrings, a hint of romance, and plenty of good cooking.

Phyllis Newson, the main character, lives in Weatherford, Texas in her show more house with her friends, Sam, Carolyn and Eve. She hits northern Texas weather right on the nose, and has a Sherlockian sense of deduction. She is not dumb; she takes her friend, Sam with her in dangerous situation.

She was invited to join in the Jingle Bell tour as a last moment decision and after several days of intense preparation with the help of her friends is ready to enjoy the experience. But Georgia Hallerbee, the head of the tour, gets knocked off on Phyllis's front porch with a heavy ceramic gingerbread woman.

I recommend this sweet mystery to all cozy readers; it is one of the very best. show less

Phyllis Newsom is in the middle of hosting her annual Christmas cookie exchange when she decides to take a plate of cookies to her shut-in next door neighbor. Her neighbor is so thrilled with the snowflake cut-outs she asks to borrow the cutters. It take Phyllis longer than she thought to get the cutters and when she gets back she finds her neighbor murdered and is herself knocked out from behind. Upon her recovery she begins to ask questions and finds that her neighbors are not all as show more problem free as she had thought. There is more than one secret on her street. An interesting cozy but in order to get our heroine in the right place to further the plot she sometimes does things that are reckless. show less