Canonical name: MacPherson, Rett
Legal name: Allen, Lauretta
Birthdate: 1960
Gender: female
Occupations: Customer Service Representative
Organizations: Alternate Historians
Relationships: Lange, Joe (husband)
Short biography: Rett MacPherson was born in Saint Louis, Missouri, as Lauretta Allen. She is divorced with two daughters, and two cats, and is planing a May wedding to Joe Lange, an artist and musician, and her soul mate.

Her first serious writing endeavor was at age 12 when she decided to write a sequel to Star Wars. She loved the universe created by George Lucas so much that she couldn't help to "play" in it. She owes a lot to George Lucas because that was the beginning for her.

Aside from mysteries, she also writes contemporary fantasy, galactic fantasy and horror but is not published in those genres yet.

One of her favorites hobbies is cemetery hopping. She has shoe boxes full of photograph of graveyards. Other hobbies include (aside from writing) genealogy, reading, theater, quilting, photography and music, cons, Mardi Gras--any excuse party and dance.

She presently works as a customer service representative at a book wholesaler in Saint Louis.
Nationality: USA
Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Places of residence: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Associated Place (for map): St. Louis, Missouri, USA

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62 reviews

auntieknickers 1,276 reviews

The Blood Ballad (Torie O'Shea Mysteries, No. 11) by Rett MacPherson

I had lost touch with local historian and genealogist Torie O'Shea in recent years, as well as her little town of New Kassel, Missouri. I'll certainly have to go back and pick up the volumes I've missed after reading THE BLOOD BALLAD.

In this one, Torie deals with every genealogist's nightmare -- the possibility of what is euphemistically termed "a non-paternity event." In other words, a man shows up claiming to have evidence that her grandfather was actually the son of a well-known local show more musician. What's more, he has tapes that appear to show that the musician stole songs that Torie's grandfather wrote and copyrighted them as his own.

Meanwhile, Torie is working busily on events for the town, the main business of which is tourism. During a "Birding Olympics" she's been roped into, shots are fired and then she and her partner literally have a dead body thrown at them. While she's investigating all this, another tape surfaces, with a song that appears to be a murder confession. The usual complications of family life and Torie's conflicts with her stepfather, the former sheriff, add to the mix.

Anyone who prefers their cozy mysteries with a bit of meat to them would do well to read THE BLOOD BALLAD. show less

Apr 3, 2013 (Edited)9 other reviews

thornton37814 2,952 reviews

Bad to the bones : a Torie O'Shea mystery by Rett MacPherson

After a long absence from the world of mysteries, Torie O'Shea returns. Rather than picking up where she left off, Torie and the remaining characters aged. Her father-in-law Colin, formerly sheriff, is now a private investigator. Torie's grown-up daughters moved out. One is gallivanting all over Europe with young men of questionable desirability. Son Matt, a high school junior, along with another friend occupy their time by podcasting. Torie, working on a project involving a Catholic show more cemetery in a nearby community, discovers exposed bones in the cemetery when her attention and that of the boys focuses on a coyote seen in the same area two days in a row. She calls Mort, the new sheriff. Both a recent set of bones and an older mass grave of bones, apparently belonging to Union soldiers, bring in crime scene investigation team as well as an archaeological team. Torie, of course, becomes involved in the investigation, using her historical and genealogical sleuthing skills to find clues police overlooked. Colin, tired of investigating straying husbands and the like, assists Torie. The new sheriff while warning Torie off, really lacks the "force" Colin used to stop her meddling; however, Torie's ownership of two museums and role as county historian provided her sufficient reason to be conducting the investigations she undertook. I enjoyed this installment and hope MacPherson will continue writing Torie O'Shea mysteries. Some plot elements such as the True Crime Club and information about her children provide clues to the direction the series may develop in future installments. show less

Jun 4, 20181 other review

Linda-C1 2,263 reviews

Blood Ballad, the by Rett MacPherson

Genealogist Torie O'Shea and her team mate in the bird-watching Olympics hear gun shots and then are shot at. Running for cover they hunker in a gully when a trunk is thrown from the cliff above and bursts open revealing a badly beaten body. Besides being involved in this murder case Torie is also approached by a man with information that could potentially throw all of her genealogical work into question. Interesting mystery mixed with Torie's family dynamics.

Sep 26, 20249 other reviews

jour149 33 reviews

A Misty Mourning (Torie O'Shea Mysteries, No. 4) by Rett MacPherson

I have been reading Rett MacPherson's books in chronological order. I was drawn to them because I also enjoy doing genealogy. I found them a bit light, but enjoyable. I hadn't read her for a while because I thought that the third books spent way more time than I wanted on Tori's family life. But the library had this one - #4, so I checked it out and found that so far it is my favorite in her series. Her family is still present, but they play more of a part in the actual mystery. Some of it show more was predictable, but not all of it. I thought that MacPerson's writing had a nice touch - including humor that fit well with the overall story. I thought that the various components of the story - the mystery, the humor, the personal life, the historical information, etc - were in a nice balance. show less

Sep 6, 20092 other reviews

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