Rett MacPherson
Author of Family Skeletons
About the Author
Series
Works by Rett MacPherson
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- 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
Members
Reviews
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
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
I love the Torie O'Shea novels, and this one is better than some of the recent ones. Some old recordings threaten to overturn Torie's carefully researched family trees. Torie and local busybody Eleanore Murdoch are in the path of bullets while they are out birding before a body gets "dumped" (almost) on them. Torie uses her genealogical sleuthing skills to help uncover the solutions to all of this.
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
Torie is busy, as usual. She is helping to organize a Roses weekend, even though she knows nothing about roses. Her three kids are growing fast and the two oldest are in the "teen" years. Early in the book she admits to being a bit bored and lo and behold a new project pops up. An historical house comes up for sale and Torie wants it. The house has a terrible story attached to it, all three children of the original owner committed suicide. The daughter also happens to have been a fantastic show more needlework artist, especially with quilts. Torie goes from wanting the house for its historical value to wanting the house for its historical value and potential use as a textile museum specializing in women's quilting and needle arts.
Of course, she also has to investigate the family and find out why three adult children committed suicide. One is easy, the youngest son came back from WWI tormented and suffering from severe post-tramatic stress (not that they knew to call it that back then). But, why the other two.
As Tori works her way through this mystery she is also slowly redefining her relationship with step-father Colin.
A most enjoyable episode in this delightful series. show less
Of course, she also has to investigate the family and find out why three adult children committed suicide. One is easy, the youngest son came back from WWI tormented and suffering from severe post-tramatic stress (not that they knew to call it that back then). But, why the other two.
As Tori works her way through this mystery she is also slowly redefining her relationship with step-father Colin.
A most enjoyable episode in this delightful series. show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 16
- Members
- 1,423
- Popularity
- #18,081
- Rating
- 3.6
- Reviews
- 58
- ISBNs
- 57
- Favorited
- 3