English teacher Teddy Thurber investigates the mysterious death of her former student.
Who killed Jessica Halliday? She was a nineteen-year-old college student with a bright future before her. No one at her former high school can imagine who would want to murder this charismatic young woman; but Teddy Thurber, Jessica's former teacher, thinks the answer might lie in a book that Jessica had given her months before.
Teddy begins to try to follow the trail of clues Jessica left behind in order to find the truth about her former student's death; in the process she must delve into the literature that Jessica loved best, and what she finds reveals unsavory details about other students, teachers, and even Jessica's family.
Helping Teddy is the new history and psychology teacher, Derek Jonas, who ends up having secrets of his own . . . . As her search for Jessica intensifies, she must also deal with the unwelcome advances of an old boyfriend, complicating her life even further.
Teddy's persistence puts her and the ones she loves in danger; but she can do no less than try to avenge the murder of a promising young woman whose future success had been assured.
At her side throughout this mystery is her faithful beagle, P.G.
Professional Reviews
Writing an Old Wrong Can Be Dangerous
Is it possible for teachers to influence basic beliefs of their students? The obvious answer is - yes. When an excellent English teacher like Theodora (Teddy) Thurber introduces Henrik Isben's play 'A Doll's House' to a brilliant, but impressionable young student, Jessica Halliday, the results take a bizarre and dangerous turn. Nora Helmer, the main character in the play, is caught up in a typical 19th Century marriage where her husband views her as a second class citizen. Jessica takes this perceived abuse to heart and dedicates herself to being the instrument of 'Nora's Revenge'. When Jessica is found strangled to death in her car a channel of events spiral into a tense and dramatic mystery. What clever idea was revealed on Jessica's website? Would Jessica's cryptic clues lead Teddy and the police to the killer? And, was the most crushing clue found in the home of Derek Jonas, a trusted friend of Teddy?
Ghosts of Lovely Women, by Julia Buckley, is a book of merit, not only for its entertainment value but for its thought-provoking theme. It strikes a point that young people really do care. That they can be independent thinkers and solve complicated riddles of adult life. The light romance that intertwines this book is wonderfully created. Teddy's beagle dog, P.G., adds touches of home-like humor, and, if you are a reader like me, the many references to great literature, from Shakespeare to Dostoyevsky's 'Crime and Punishment' is an added welcome bonus!
Six straight men in the cast plus free Tex-Mex food? My friend Lida Rose sure knew how to persuade me. I signed on the dotted line and dusted off my dance shoes. I knew Bad Business on the Brazos would have them rolling in the aisles and standing up
Amateur sleuth and cobbler Fulton Moon (yes, his nickname is Full Moon) encounters beautiful and sinister Lucinda Mathews. Lucy, wife of prominent florist Arthur Mathews, wants to escape an abusive husband and Moon only wants to help. It isn’t that
