Edward Wright (1) (1939–2015)

In a story with as many surprises as murders, Edward Wright shows us that unexpected tragedies can end up being totally unexpected happiness.
Shannon hadn’t ever felt she fit in. She was dark-haired, sister Beth pure blond. Beth was whiney, beautiful and a dutiful daughter. Shannon met the folk at the city jail, smoked pot, and in general did all she could to not be what her parents wanted. Until they are killed. Then she uncovers photos of them marching, fists raised, protesting. show more PROTESTING?!? Roy and Mora Fairchild? The King and Queen of the university faculty? Who knew?
Turns out quite a few people. Most with bad intentions. They think Shannon knows more than she does. They think she has the key to finding “the treasure.” She doesn’t but she’s damn sure going to!
What a great story! There is familial love, many surprises, murders left and right and, through it all; Shannon doing things in her own, stubborn, sometimes misguided way but trying to make it all right. This is a must read! show less

It took me a long time to get into this novel. I picked it up and started it a half-dozen times before finishing it, but it is a good book for mystery lovers. It is sometimes hard for me to get into books that are set in a different time period. This is set in the '50s during the early Hollywood days and stars an interesting protagonist - an ex-film cowboy - who has recently been released from prision and has burned most of his bridges with the exception of his former "Indian" co-star. Once show more I finally got into the story - about halfway through the book - I found myself forgetting that this wasn't set in the 1980s or even in current times. With the exception of the casual misogyny and racism, that is. Once you get into the meat of why the stepdaughter, Clea, is missing, it certainly takes on a more modern edge. I ultimately enjoyed it, but some of the non-PC language is a bit jarring. It is appropriate for the time period, but I sometimes forget that people used to speak this way. show less

Former newspaper journalist Randall Wilkes returns to his Tennessee hometown to ghostwrite a biography of his childhood friend and former Tennessee governor, Sonny McMahan. He soon becomes embroiled in a series of murders, including that of McMahan's mother. During the course of the investigation, the remains of Callie Darnell, a girlfriend from Randall's long ago past, are also found. Is Callie's death somehow connected to the current string of murders? Was Sunny McMahan somehow involved in show more Callie's death? The author keeps the reader guessing until the very last surprise twist. Wright is a good writer who deserves to be read. show less

Randall Wilkes, in disgrace after being fired from his Chicago newspaper, returns to his home town of Pilgrim?s Rest to take on the job of ghost writing the autobiography of his old school friend, and former state governor, Sonny McMahon. On the night he arrives at Sonny?s summer house just outside the town, Randall has an unexpected visit from Sonny?s mother, Faye. Now suffering from dementia, Faye makes some garbled comments about her dead husband and her son being in danger. Later that show more night with a storm raging, Randall woken by a scream, investigates and finds Faye murdered, hanging from a bridge over Damnation Falls. When some bones found in a field outside town are identified as one of Randall's old girlfriends, he determines to find her killer.

This is a book about truth and lies, and the extent to which some people will go to protect their lies, and the sometimes devastating consequences of uncovering the truth. But mostly this is a book about families, and the ties that bind even the most dysfunctional. The Southern small town setting feels very realistic, with Wright depicting a South with a deep sense of history. The characters are all very believable, and the main characters particularly likeable. Told in the first person with an easy flowing style, Wright has created a complex, multi-layered story that carries the reader through to a gripping finale.

Edward Wright, a former journalist, has previously written three books set in 1940s Los Angeles featuring former B-movie cowboy star, John Ray Horn. Each has won an award, the Debut Dagger, the Shamus, and the Ellis Peters Historical Crime Award respectively. Damnation Falls is his first standalone. show less