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5th out of 8 books
—
6 voters
A Lack of Temperance
by
Anna Loan-Wilsey (Goodreads Author)
Loan-Wilsey writes the first installment of a new historical mystery series featuring Hattie Davish, a traveling secretary who arrives in a small Ozark town only to discover her new employer has disappeared.
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
September 25th 2012
by Kensington
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Hattie Davish arrives on the train from Kansas City to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, eager to start her new assignment as personal secretary to Mrs. Trevelyan. Hattie is shocked to learn “Mother Trevelyan” is the leader of a woman’s temperance movement and isn’t afraid to express her strong views against liquor by taking an ax or setting fire to local saloons. Hattie never gets the opportunity to meet her new employer, because Mother Trevelyan is missing and later discovered to have been murdered. H...more
First Line: It was chaos.
It's 1892. Self-described typewriter Hattie Davish has been paid to work for a Mrs. Edwina Trevelyan of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. She boards the train in Kansas City, and when she arrives in the resort town, the very first thing she sees is the American Women's Temperance Coalition (AWTC) trying their best to demolish a saloon. By the time she gets to the Arcadia Hotel, Hattie has learned that Mrs. Trevelyan is the president of the AWTC.
After a short battle of wills with...more
It's 1892. Self-described typewriter Hattie Davish has been paid to work for a Mrs. Edwina Trevelyan of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. She boards the train in Kansas City, and when she arrives in the resort town, the very first thing she sees is the American Women's Temperance Coalition (AWTC) trying their best to demolish a saloon. By the time she gets to the Arcadia Hotel, Hattie has learned that Mrs. Trevelyan is the president of the AWTC.
After a short battle of wills with...more
This was an enjoyable historical mystery set in Eureka Springs, Arkansas in 1892. Hattie Davish is a private secretary who travels around the United States to each new position--an interesting and original take on the modern rootless P.I. Her position as secretary to the president of a Women's Temperance Organization leads to her "look into" a mysterious death.
I enjoyed learning about the Temperance Movement, and the Ozark resort setting was beautifully described. Hattie is a likeable investigat...more
I enjoyed learning about the Temperance Movement, and the Ozark resort setting was beautifully described. Hattie is a likeable investigat...more
A Lack of Temperance is the first in a new series about Hattie Davish, a typist to hire. Hattie types lists to organize her thoughts and collects plant specimens for fun, and although she gets into a few interesting situations (not always making the best decisions) she's really quite dull. Hattie's character never develops beyond using her 'skills' to help solve the mystery.
Eureka Springs has several unusual characters, unfortunately you don't get to know any of them well either. The resident D...more
Eureka Springs has several unusual characters, unfortunately you don't get to know any of them well either. The resident D...more
I liked this book. The historical aspect of it was fascinating to me. I loved that she was a typist and traveled with her job to new locations . There was also enough hints of other scenarios and acquaintances that would provide interest in other books. Criticism would be that the character development wasn't the best. Some of the attempt at emotions felt wooden and lacked the right amount of explanation. The main character also made a lot of lists and insisted that she was organized, but some o...more
Hattie is a typewriter girl and has a new job for the president of a temperance league. Hattie arrives in Eureka Springs and gets busy organizing the mail and typing responses while waiting to meet her new employer. The next day, Hattie enjoys a hike near the springs and spends the rest of the day doing more typing and looking for her missing boss. Hattie earlier the next day does find her missing boss but it is not pretty.
A mystery in history, when women were trying to get others to accept tem...more
A mystery in history, when women were trying to get others to accept tem...more
Private secretary Hattie Davish is hired, sight unseen, to work for the leader of the American Women's Temperance Coalition, Mother Trevelyan. The AWTC is meeting in Eureka Springs, AK and ardent plant collector Hattie is glad for the chance to see new flora. But her employer seems to be missing, and the police think she's fled after setting a local tavern on fire. There's a handsome doctor who takes more than a professional interest in Hattie on hand, and a number of AWTC members who are jockey...more
The setting of the story, Eureka Springs, Ark. is wonderful. I had visited there for a flying one day stop several years back. Missed so much. Now I want to go back and really explore the place.
The book features Hattie Davish, a "typewriter" (secretary) in the 1890's who is hired by the head of a temperance organization having its convention in Eureka Springs. Soon there is dead body and Hattie is right in the middle of it assisted by the local doctor, and by two busy body elderly sisters, Lucy...more
The book features Hattie Davish, a "typewriter" (secretary) in the 1890's who is hired by the head of a temperance organization having its convention in Eureka Springs. Soon there is dead body and Hattie is right in the middle of it assisted by the local doctor, and by two busy body elderly sisters, Lucy...more
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My Thoughts: I really enjoy historical mysteries when I can learn a bit about history while enjoying an entertaining 'who dunnit'. Kind of a two for one deal, if you will. A little knowledge wrapped up into a nice, cozy mystery. Well, this book fits the bill.
I'm a little embarrassed to say that I have pretty much no knowledge of the temperance movement in the late 1900's. When I say 'pretty much...more
My Thoughts: I really enjoy historical mysteries when I can learn a bit about history while enjoying an entertaining 'who dunnit'. Kind of a two for one deal, if you will. A little knowledge wrapped up into a nice, cozy mystery. Well, this book fits the bill.
I'm a little embarrassed to say that I have pretty much no knowledge of the temperance movement in the late 1900's. When I say 'pretty much...more
A LACK OF TEMPERANCE was a delightful read, and I'm not just saying that because I adore Eureka Springs. :) I love Hattie Davish as the amateur sleuth in this historical mystery. She is a savvy Victorian career woman working as a secretary to some very important and influential people.
In November of 1892, Hattie's work takes her to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, a resort town famous for its healing mineral springs. It's also the meeting place for the American Women's Temperance Coalition, a group pas...more
In November of 1892, Hattie's work takes her to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, a resort town famous for its healing mineral springs. It's also the meeting place for the American Women's Temperance Coalition, a group pas...more
An enjoyable combination of history and mystery, A LACK OF TEMPERANCE is sure to entertain the cozy reader.
Hats off to Ms. Loan-Wilsey for her ability to author a book that can be shared with all my friends and family. She now joins the short list of writers that do not find it necessary to include explicit intimacy or graphic violence in their writings. Ms. Loan-Wilsey relies on her writing talents and extensive research to hold her readers' attention.
This is a fun, light-hearted mystery with historical characters that give it a sense of the past. Easy to read, you could knock this off in an afternoon. I'm hoping the author continues to develop her character and that we will see more like this in the future. I'm one of those people who follow an author's characters down through the series - if I like the book. I'd recommend this book to all who like a diversion from everyday stress.
Hattie Davish arrives at her new job as a secretary to an older woman. But whe she get there, she finds that her employer is missing and she's right in the middle of a storm over temperance. Her employer is the presidents of a large protest organization and they're hosting a rally that week. But her new boss turns up dead and the police haven't got much to go on. Hattie better figure out what's going on before she become a victim herself.
I liked this series debut. The setting, Arkansas in the la...more
I liked this series debut. The setting, Arkansas in the la...more
Interesting start to what could be a good historical mystery series. The time period and the subject matter of the Temperance Movement were fascinating. It is refreshing to see a female character from that time period who has a secretarial job at a time when this was something new. It will be fun to see how that impacts the future of the series.
This mystery held some additional interest for me because I'm familiar with the location of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, though it didn't play much of a factor in the overall story. The thread unravels gradually and ended with a bit more complexity than I expected from early pages. Although there is nothing ground-breaking with most mystery novels these days, this was a well written book and a fine mystery, especially for a debut author. I suspect we'll see more from this author.
This was an early r...more
This was an early r...more
I really enjoyed this historical mystery. I liked the character of Hattie Davish. The storyline caught and held my interest, and I liked the Ozark Mountains are setting. I thought this was a great beginning to a new series, and I look forward to reading more about Hattie.
Hattie Davish arrives in the Ozarks to find that her new employer is the leader of a women's temperance movement which is causing chaos in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. When Hattie's new employer is murdered, Hattie investigates to...more
Hattie Davish arrives in the Ozarks to find that her new employer is the leader of a women's temperance movement which is causing chaos in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. When Hattie's new employer is murdered, Hattie investigates to...more
I have another new author to follow. I certainly hope a sequel is in the works. Professional typist Hattie Davish takes a new position to be secretary for the president of the temperance movement, but doesn't get to meet her boss before she is murdered. She spends her time looking for clues into who the murderer is.
Although this book made me want to revisit Eureka Springs, Arkansas and go to the baths, the plot and characters weren't enough to make me want to read what obviously is going to be a series. I thumbed through to find out the killer.
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We were learning about the Temperance Movement in school, and this was on the recommended list, so I read it. It was very interesting and a good mystery. It was non-violent and still kept my interest.
Hattie Davish is a secretary assigned to work with the leader of the Temperance movement while at convention in Arkasas 1892. She solves the mystery of the leader's murder. Contrived. not well written. Dull.
Has potential but needs an Editor to keep focus and flesh out the protagonist better.
Fun and intriguing protagonist. Can't wait for the next in the series!
Quick Historical Mystery.
Heroine/Detective is a professional typist.
Heroine/Detective is a professional typist.
This is kind of between three and four stars. Liked the premise and the setting, but the action was very confusing at times.
such a lovely book!can't wait for the next..
Not really worth reading.
A fun light read!
Disjointed plot.
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As a librarian and information specialist, Anna Loan-Wilsey tracks down information every day that helps to solve mysteries. Eureka Springs is one of her favorite getaway spots. She is currently working on the second book in the Hattie Davish Mystery series to be set in Galena, Illinois. She earned her B.A. at Wells College and had several poems published in their literary magazine, The Chronicle....more
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