What do you think?
Rate this book
Sam Blackman #3
The Sandburg Connection
It was only a simple, routine assignment for private investigator Sam Blackman and his partner, Nakayla Robertson: follow a history professor, who is suing a spinal surgeon for malpractice, and catch her in physical activities that undercut her claim.
When the professor, Janice Wainwright, visits Connemara, the home of the poet Carl Sandburg, in Flat Rock, North Carolina, and climbs the arduous trail to the top of Glassy Mountain, Sam believes he has the evidence he needs to wrap up the case—until he finds the woman semiconscious and bleeding on the mountain’s granite outcrop. Her final words were “It’s the Sandburg verses. The Sandburg verses.”
As the first person to discover the dying woman, Sam becomes the prime suspect. Now the case is personal. An autopsy reveals painkillers in her blood and solid proof of the surgeon’s errors, and Sam is left with haunting questions: Why did this suffering woman endure the climb to the mountaintop? Did she stumble and fall or did someone cause her death?
Then a breakin at the Wainwright farmhouse and the theft of Sandburg volumes convince Sam that someone is seeking information worth killing for. But what did Pulitzer Prize winner Sandburg have in his literary collection that could lead to multiple murders? And who will be targeted next?
Sam and Nakayla must navigate a convoluted trail of historical facts and mountain legends to arrive at the truth—a truth that Carl Sandburg never knew he possessed—and a treasure to be had for a song.
Crack another case with Sam Blackman.
Length 9 hours 38 minutes
When the professor, Janice Wainwright, visits Connemara, the home of the poet Carl Sandburg, in Flat Rock, North Carolina, and climbs the arduous trail to the top of Glassy Mountain, Sam believes he has the evidence he needs to wrap up the case—until he finds the woman semiconscious and bleeding on the mountain’s granite outcrop. Her final words were “It’s the Sandburg verses. The Sandburg verses.”
As the first person to discover the dying woman, Sam becomes the prime suspect. Now the case is personal. An autopsy reveals painkillers in her blood and solid proof of the surgeon’s errors, and Sam is left with haunting questions: Why did this suffering woman endure the climb to the mountaintop? Did she stumble and fall or did someone cause her death?
Then a breakin at the Wainwright farmhouse and the theft of Sandburg volumes convince Sam that someone is seeking information worth killing for. But what did Pulitzer Prize winner Sandburg have in his literary collection that could lead to multiple murders? And who will be targeted next?
Sam and Nakayla must navigate a convoluted trail of historical facts and mountain legends to arrive at the truth—a truth that Carl Sandburg never knew he possessed—and a treasure to be had for a song.
Crack another case with Sam Blackman.
Length 9 hours 38 minutes
446 pages, Paperback
Published November 8, 2011
34 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Mark de Castrique
29 books166 followersMark de Castrique is an author, playwright, public speaker, and television producer living in Charlotte.
Through his company MARK et al., he writes, shoots, and edits projects for a variety of clients.
His work has earned CLIO, TELLY, and EMMY awards.
Mark has scripted stories aired on PBS and commercial network affiliates, as well as created video presentations for major corporations.
Through his company MARK et al., he writes, shoots, and edits projects for a variety of clients.
His work has earned CLIO, TELLY, and EMMY awards.
Mark has scripted stories aired on PBS and commercial network affiliates, as well as created video presentations for major corporations.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
March 20, 2021
Nowhere near as engaging as #1 and just barely okay. 3 of 10 stars
November 13, 2024
Third time’s still the charm for author Mark de Castrique’s novel, The Sandburg Connection, the third in his excellent series featuring amputee veteran Sam Blackman and his partner in work and love, Nakayla Robertson. Author Thomas Wolfe played a central role in the debut novel, Blackman's Coffin, while F. Scott Fitzgerald featured in the second, The Fitzgerald Ruse.
This time around the mystery’s literary connection is to Connemara, Carl Sandburg’s home in Flat Rock, N.C., just outside of Asheville. A college history professor falls to her death on the mountain trail near the historic home (now a museum), and Sam and Nakayla — and a forest ranger named Bobby Ray Corn — suspect murder, not a tragic accident. De Castrique adds lots of wonderful twists and suspense that should leave readers eager to move on to No. 4, A Murder in Passing.
Those who have read the previous two books will enjoy this novel a bit more, but newbies won’t feel lost on this wild ride of a mystery novel.
This time around the mystery’s literary connection is to Connemara, Carl Sandburg’s home in Flat Rock, N.C., just outside of Asheville. A college history professor falls to her death on the mountain trail near the historic home (now a museum), and Sam and Nakayla — and a forest ranger named Bobby Ray Corn — suspect murder, not a tragic accident. De Castrique adds lots of wonderful twists and suspense that should leave readers eager to move on to No. 4, A Murder in Passing.
Those who have read the previous two books will enjoy this novel a bit more, but newbies won’t feel lost on this wild ride of a mystery novel.
April 12, 2023
This is really about a 3.5. Another halfway decent detective story, though this one plods along more than the last two. A decent mystery in the end with okay-ish motivations for the villain.
November 5, 2011
First Sentence: The beep caught me in mid-bite.
Investigators Sam Blackman and Nakayla Robertson are following a history professor. She is suing a spinal surgeon for malpractice, yet what is she doing on the climbing trail up to the top of Glassy Mountain in Flat Rock, N.C. Trying to stay out of sight, Sam hears her cry out and the situation changes. He finds the woman at the bottom of an outcropping, severely injured and muttering about “The Sandburg versus.” When the autopsy shows massive painkillers in her system and clear evidence of the surgeon’s malpractice, it is suspected the woman lost her balance and accidently fell. But Sam isn’t so certain. Why did she make the climb in the first place and why was her backpack found a distance from her body?
De Castrique’s voice as an author is one I truly enjoy. The dialogue that flows well and sounds natural is something I particularly appreciate and the drama is offset but just the right touch of wry humor and bad puns. He also scores high marks in the creation of his characters and their relationships. Sam lost his leg in Iraq but we are told about it in a way that describes some of the issues with which he must deal without over-dramatizing them. He and Nakayla are both lovers and business partners but the book isn’t a romance. Sam and Attorney Hewitt Donaldson acknowledge Nakayla’s intellect without being patronizing. I also appreciate the positive relationship between the detectives and the officials on the case.
There is an excellent blending of real people and fictional. The literary and historical themes of Carl Sandburg and the Confederacy add a special and fascinating element to the story. There is a wonderful passage…”A friend…from Jackson, Mississippi argued that the South had the distinction of being the only region of the country to have been defeated and occupied. He said when the greatest growth industry in your state after the war was wooden crutches and prosthetics for Confederate vets, you aren’t going to forgive and forget any time soon. …But, ask the Cherokee about being defeated and occupied. You don’t see them driving around with bumper stickers saying, “Forget, Hell!” over crossed tomahawks.” It’s writing, such as this, which makes you think but doesn’t beat you over the head, that brings you back to an author’s other works.
“THE SANDBURG CONNECTION” is a well written, traditional mystery solved by investigation and following the clues. It contains neither sex nor profanity; it is a good, solid literary mystery. In addition to the Sam Blackman series, I also recommend Mark de Castrique’s Barry Clayton series.
THE SANDBURG CONNECTION (PI-Sam Blackman-North Carolina-Cont) – G+
de Castrique, Mark – 3rd in series
Poisoned Pen Press, 2011, ARC: Hardcover release Oct 2011 – ISBN: 9781590589410
Investigators Sam Blackman and Nakayla Robertson are following a history professor. She is suing a spinal surgeon for malpractice, yet what is she doing on the climbing trail up to the top of Glassy Mountain in Flat Rock, N.C. Trying to stay out of sight, Sam hears her cry out and the situation changes. He finds the woman at the bottom of an outcropping, severely injured and muttering about “The Sandburg versus.” When the autopsy shows massive painkillers in her system and clear evidence of the surgeon’s malpractice, it is suspected the woman lost her balance and accidently fell. But Sam isn’t so certain. Why did she make the climb in the first place and why was her backpack found a distance from her body?
De Castrique’s voice as an author is one I truly enjoy. The dialogue that flows well and sounds natural is something I particularly appreciate and the drama is offset but just the right touch of wry humor and bad puns. He also scores high marks in the creation of his characters and their relationships. Sam lost his leg in Iraq but we are told about it in a way that describes some of the issues with which he must deal without over-dramatizing them. He and Nakayla are both lovers and business partners but the book isn’t a romance. Sam and Attorney Hewitt Donaldson acknowledge Nakayla’s intellect without being patronizing. I also appreciate the positive relationship between the detectives and the officials on the case.
There is an excellent blending of real people and fictional. The literary and historical themes of Carl Sandburg and the Confederacy add a special and fascinating element to the story. There is a wonderful passage…”A friend…from Jackson, Mississippi argued that the South had the distinction of being the only region of the country to have been defeated and occupied. He said when the greatest growth industry in your state after the war was wooden crutches and prosthetics for Confederate vets, you aren’t going to forgive and forget any time soon. …But, ask the Cherokee about being defeated and occupied. You don’t see them driving around with bumper stickers saying, “Forget, Hell!” over crossed tomahawks.” It’s writing, such as this, which makes you think but doesn’t beat you over the head, that brings you back to an author’s other works.
“THE SANDBURG CONNECTION” is a well written, traditional mystery solved by investigation and following the clues. It contains neither sex nor profanity; it is a good, solid literary mystery. In addition to the Sam Blackman series, I also recommend Mark de Castrique’s Barry Clayton series.
THE SANDBURG CONNECTION (PI-Sam Blackman-North Carolina-Cont) – G+
de Castrique, Mark – 3rd in series
Poisoned Pen Press, 2011, ARC: Hardcover release Oct 2011 – ISBN: 9781590589410
October 23, 2015
While I always enjoy novels set in familiar places, some number of those novels set in western North Carolina aren't particularly that well written. The Sandburg Connnection was a fun book--a good mystery set in several places quite familiar to me. Found it particularly interesting how Louise Bailey ended up in the book. Having now read one book in the Sam Blackburn mystery series, I'm guessing I'll read more.
October 7, 2011
Janice Wainwright is suing her doctor for messing up her back during surgery, and private detectives Sam Blackman and Nakayla Robertson have been hired to follow her to see if she does anything that indicates she's not really hurt. They follow her to the top of Glassy Mountain where she falls down, hits her head and dies ~ just around the corner, out of their sight. What really happened to Janice? Did she just trip or did someone hiding in the trees push her? And what do her dying words, referring to Carl Sandburg's verses, mean?
The Sandburg Connection by Mark de Castrique is a fun detective mystery with interesting characters and a unique literary tie-in. Once Janice dies, Sam and Nakayla switch over to helping her daughter uncover what really happened to her. They dig into her historical research, trying to determine if someone was after whatever she was researching. They investigate the surgeon to see what he might be hiding. They even consider the possibility that her own daughter could have pushed her down. There are plenty of characters that could have been involved, and there's always that chance that Janice really just fell. This kept the pages turning as I wanted to know what was really behind her death.
Intertwined with the mystery of her death is the history of Carl Sandburg's home near Glassy Mountain and the songs he collected, the Confederate army's history in the area, and a goat that is about to give birth. Yes, really. There is actually quite a bit of true history and humor weaved into the story, which kept it interesting, lighthearted and fun.
Evidently there are two other Sam Blackman novels, but you definitely don't have to read those before reading this one. It stands alone, although I assume there is probably some history I'm missing between Sam and Nakayla. You also don't need to know much about Carl Sandburg prior to reading this. It was interesting to learn about him, though.
I recommend The Sandburg Connection if you're looking for a lighthearted mystery with a variety of unique characters and a literary slant. I'll likely check out some of the other Sam Blackman novels in the future.
The Sandburg Connection by Mark de Castrique is a fun detective mystery with interesting characters and a unique literary tie-in. Once Janice dies, Sam and Nakayla switch over to helping her daughter uncover what really happened to her. They dig into her historical research, trying to determine if someone was after whatever she was researching. They investigate the surgeon to see what he might be hiding. They even consider the possibility that her own daughter could have pushed her down. There are plenty of characters that could have been involved, and there's always that chance that Janice really just fell. This kept the pages turning as I wanted to know what was really behind her death.
Intertwined with the mystery of her death is the history of Carl Sandburg's home near Glassy Mountain and the songs he collected, the Confederate army's history in the area, and a goat that is about to give birth. Yes, really. There is actually quite a bit of true history and humor weaved into the story, which kept it interesting, lighthearted and fun.
Evidently there are two other Sam Blackman novels, but you definitely don't have to read those before reading this one. It stands alone, although I assume there is probably some history I'm missing between Sam and Nakayla. You also don't need to know much about Carl Sandburg prior to reading this. It was interesting to learn about him, though.
I recommend The Sandburg Connection if you're looking for a lighthearted mystery with a variety of unique characters and a literary slant. I'll likely check out some of the other Sam Blackman novels in the future.
July 27, 2011
Sam Blackman, of the Cadillac versus Land Rover prosthesis fame, and his partner, Nakayla Robertson, have taken on a case involving a university professor who may be trying to scam their employer, an insurance company, for millions by faking the severity of her injuries.
Janice Wainwright, the woman they were following, for some reason, had changed clothes and headed off to climb a very steep hill,where, out of sight of the detectives, they heard a scream, the word “no”, and discovered her body on some rocks below. An autopsy revealed higher than normal levels of pain killers and the immediate suspicion is that she became dizzy and fell to her death. Her backpack revealed only a change of clothes and the receipt for a book of Sandburg poems purchased the day before. Sam and his partner have reason to believe she has been murdered. They discover a connection to Carl Sandburg, a song from the past, a box hidden in an old house, and a man who was high in the Confederate government.
I really don’t know if one should read the series in order or not. This is the third in the series and if you like to know how characters got to where they are then perhaps that might be useful. I thought this book worked well as a stand-alone. There does seem to be a thread running through the series: books. Sam, at one point, discusses the assorted books that had appeared in their investigations e.g. The Fitzgerald Ruse. De Castrique has another series going (Barry Clayton) that I will also have to sample. As an added benefit, I developed more of an appreciation for Carl Sandburg.
Well written, good plot, nicely developed characters; what more could one want. Disclaimer: I received this book free as an advanced reader copy. That affected my view not one whit.
Janice Wainwright, the woman they were following, for some reason, had changed clothes and headed off to climb a very steep hill,where, out of sight of the detectives, they heard a scream, the word “no”, and discovered her body on some rocks below. An autopsy revealed higher than normal levels of pain killers and the immediate suspicion is that she became dizzy and fell to her death. Her backpack revealed only a change of clothes and the receipt for a book of Sandburg poems purchased the day before. Sam and his partner have reason to believe she has been murdered. They discover a connection to Carl Sandburg, a song from the past, a box hidden in an old house, and a man who was high in the Confederate government.
I really don’t know if one should read the series in order or not. This is the third in the series and if you like to know how characters got to where they are then perhaps that might be useful. I thought this book worked well as a stand-alone. There does seem to be a thread running through the series: books. Sam, at one point, discusses the assorted books that had appeared in their investigations e.g. The Fitzgerald Ruse. De Castrique has another series going (Barry Clayton) that I will also have to sample. As an added benefit, I developed more of an appreciation for Carl Sandburg.
Well written, good plot, nicely developed characters; what more could one want. Disclaimer: I received this book free as an advanced reader copy. That affected my view not one whit.
November 6, 2011
Another great mystery involving Sam Blackman and his partner Nakayla Robertson.
It was only routine. A simple assignment for private investigator Sam Blackman and his partner Nakayla Robertson. Follow a history professor who’s suing a spinal surgeon for malpractice and catch her in physical activities that undercut her claim. When the professor, Janice Wainwright, visits Connemara, Carl Sandburg’s home in Flat Rock, N.C., and climbs the arduous trail to the top of Glassy Mountain, Sam believes he has the evidence to wrap up the case – until he finds the woman semi-conscious and bleeding on the mountain’s granite outcropping. Her final words: “It’s the Sandburg verses. The Sandburg verses.” As the first person to discover the dying woman, Sam becomes the first suspect. Now the routine case is personal. An autopsy reveals painkillers in her blood and solid proof of the surgeon’s errors. Sam is left with the haunting questions: why did this suffering woman endure the climb to the mountaintop, and did she stumble and fall or did someone cause her death? A break-in at the Wainwright farmhouse and the theft of Sandburg volumes convince Sam someone is seeking information worth killing for. But what did Pulitzer-Prize-winner Sandburg have in his literary collection that leads to multiple murders? And who will be targeted next? Sam and Nakayla must navigate a convoluted trail of historical facts and mountain legends to arrive at the truth, a truth Carl Sandburg never knew he possessed, and a treasure to be had for a song. This is the third installment in the Sam Blackman series.
It was only routine. A simple assignment for private investigator Sam Blackman and his partner Nakayla Robertson. Follow a history professor who’s suing a spinal surgeon for malpractice and catch her in physical activities that undercut her claim. When the professor, Janice Wainwright, visits Connemara, Carl Sandburg’s home in Flat Rock, N.C., and climbs the arduous trail to the top of Glassy Mountain, Sam believes he has the evidence to wrap up the case – until he finds the woman semi-conscious and bleeding on the mountain’s granite outcropping. Her final words: “It’s the Sandburg verses. The Sandburg verses.” As the first person to discover the dying woman, Sam becomes the first suspect. Now the routine case is personal. An autopsy reveals painkillers in her blood and solid proof of the surgeon’s errors. Sam is left with the haunting questions: why did this suffering woman endure the climb to the mountaintop, and did she stumble and fall or did someone cause her death? A break-in at the Wainwright farmhouse and the theft of Sandburg volumes convince Sam someone is seeking information worth killing for. But what did Pulitzer-Prize-winner Sandburg have in his literary collection that leads to multiple murders? And who will be targeted next? Sam and Nakayla must navigate a convoluted trail of historical facts and mountain legends to arrive at the truth, a truth Carl Sandburg never knew he possessed, and a treasure to be had for a song. This is the third installment in the Sam Blackman series.
July 5, 2018
Sam Blackman and his partner Nakayla Robertson, are private investigators working on a case for an insurance company. They're following a woman with a substantial medical malpractice claim against a local neurosurgeon claiming he botched her back surgery and that she is barely able to function due to the increased pain and weakness in her legs. So when she starts on a vigorous hike up Glassy Mountain, near Carl Sandburg's historical estate, they think they'll finally be able to capture the photographic evidence they need to debunk her claim. The problem is, she's gotten a bit of a head start on them and Sam is the one trailing her, and he's wearing his everyday leg prosthesis, not the one meant for more rigorous walking, so he's having a difficult time...and by the time he reaches the top, he's heard a sharp cry of "No!" followed by a thud, and finds that she has fallen off a granite outcrop and it doesn't look good. He thought he'd seen a blur of movement off to one side...but was it just an animal startled by the noise, or....? Nakayla gets to her first, finding she is still alive, and she utters a few last words that leave them scratching their heads.
I think this is my favorite entry in the series so far, the last one was a bit weak so I waited some time to read this one. The reader of the audio version is a little annoying, but it wasn't enough to detract from the excellent story.
I think this is my favorite entry in the series so far, the last one was a bit weak so I waited some time to read this one. The reader of the audio version is a little annoying, but it wasn't enough to detract from the excellent story.
October 10, 2020
The book opens with Sam and Nakayla investigating a possible insurance fraud. I enjoyed the introduction as it showed them working on the type of case that is more common to the industry. This case did dissolve quickly into the main story line. The person of interest, Janice Wainwright, dies on Sam's watch. Things do not point to an accidental death, and Sam's integrity demands he find her killer. The death occurred on a hiking trail near the Sandburg Home National Historic Site in Flat Rock ND. As in his previous books in this series, de Castrique skillfully incorporates historical information with Sam and Nakayla's investigative works. One detail of the Sandburg site, the goats, add a winsome note to this volume. Will Sam be completely flummoxed by a pregnant nanny?
de Castrique has experience working in both the academic field and in the theater. This knowledge adds credence to the portrayal of the small university academic world of Jane Wainwright. Was her research important enough to cause her death? Which of Sandburg's verses are the right one? Will Sam and Nakayla be able to find justice for Jane's daughter? The mystery becomes more intense, as others are killed. The taut conclusion is breath taking. de Castrique should be finding a much larger audience. He is that good.
Recommended for all lovers of procedural mysteries.
de Castrique has experience working in both the academic field and in the theater. This knowledge adds credence to the portrayal of the small university academic world of Jane Wainwright. Was her research important enough to cause her death? Which of Sandburg's verses are the right one? Will Sam and Nakayla be able to find justice for Jane's daughter? The mystery becomes more intense, as others are killed. The taut conclusion is breath taking. de Castrique should be finding a much larger audience. He is that good.
Recommended for all lovers of procedural mysteries.
July 22, 2011
The third installment of the Sam Blackman series does not disappoint. Sam and Nakayla his partner and other things are up to their necks in a murder/accident/lawsuit/goats having kids/story and we are happily swept away with them.
Janice Wainwright died in a fall from Glassy Mountain. The “fall” part is the problem. She was heard by Sam (who was tailing her at the time) to yell “NO!” as she fell. Her backpack – which Sam knew she had during her hike – was missing. Next day, a 17-yr. old with murder in her eyes bursts into Sam and Nakayla’s office with a gun ready to kill.
Wendy is Janice’ daughter and is now basically alone. She has Ida Mae, her Nubian goat who is about ready to kid, an aunt in Florida and a father who plays golf and divorced her mom years ago. Janice was on to something but no one knows exactly what. Sam needs to know because he thinks Janice didn’t just fall and too many people have too much to gain from her passing.
Mark de la Castrique does an excellent job of keeping his suspects in line, his investigators in love and Wendy safe. The tongue-in-cheek humor was a nice change from the usual who-dunnits and I would recommend this to anyone with a love of mystery.
Janice Wainwright died in a fall from Glassy Mountain. The “fall” part is the problem. She was heard by Sam (who was tailing her at the time) to yell “NO!” as she fell. Her backpack – which Sam knew she had during her hike – was missing. Next day, a 17-yr. old with murder in her eyes bursts into Sam and Nakayla’s office with a gun ready to kill.
Wendy is Janice’ daughter and is now basically alone. She has Ida Mae, her Nubian goat who is about ready to kid, an aunt in Florida and a father who plays golf and divorced her mom years ago. Janice was on to something but no one knows exactly what. Sam needs to know because he thinks Janice didn’t just fall and too many people have too much to gain from her passing.
Mark de la Castrique does an excellent job of keeping his suspects in line, his investigators in love and Wendy safe. The tongue-in-cheek humor was a nice change from the usual who-dunnits and I would recommend this to anyone with a love of mystery.
August 2, 2021
The first two Sam Blackman books caused me some trepidation - they wouldn't exist, at least not as novels (perhaps as short stories) apart from labored connections to famous authors. This book also has such a connection, to Carl Sandburg, but it's a looser connection, and in consequence the book is better. Moreover, we're seeing more of Sam and his partner, Nakayla Robertson, who in the previous installments were hard to see through the famous writer fog.
I had decided that if this book wasn't any better than the first two, I'd dump the series. But it's better - it's not a great mystery, but it's a good one, which is an improvement over mediocre - and so I'll continue with the Sam Blackman books. But I hope that the improvement continues; a reversion to the whole book being about some famous author with a connection to Buncombe County, North Carolina will sour me on the series.
I had decided that if this book wasn't any better than the first two, I'd dump the series. But it's better - it's not a great mystery, but it's a good one, which is an improvement over mediocre - and so I'll continue with the Sam Blackman books. But I hope that the improvement continues; a reversion to the whole book being about some famous author with a connection to Buncombe County, North Carolina will sour me on the series.
July 26, 2025
Learn Secrets about Sandburg and Solve a Mystery?
Although this book is part of a delightful series with a pair of memorable private investigators, it can be read as a standalone. Two investigators hired by a physician’s medical malpractice insurance company have been following a college history professor hoping to capture her in compromising photos that provide proof her claims of pain, suffering, and limitations are false.
However, before any photographs are taken, a cry is heard minutes before they arrive to see her collapsed and bleeding from a serious head injury. Before she dies her final words focus on Sandburg and the verses. And so begins the mystery which begins at the Sandburg Museum.
Colorful Southern characters, captivating settings, and dramatic plot push the story towards a satisfying conclusion.
Although this book is part of a delightful series with a pair of memorable private investigators, it can be read as a standalone. Two investigators hired by a physician’s medical malpractice insurance company have been following a college history professor hoping to capture her in compromising photos that provide proof her claims of pain, suffering, and limitations are false.
However, before any photographs are taken, a cry is heard minutes before they arrive to see her collapsed and bleeding from a serious head injury. Before she dies her final words focus on Sandburg and the verses. And so begins the mystery which begins at the Sandburg Museum.
Colorful Southern characters, captivating settings, and dramatic plot push the story towards a satisfying conclusion.
May 2, 2018
Janice Wainwright is suing her doctor and his insurance company for malpractice, and Sam and Nakayla are trailing her to see if they can catch her doing something that she claims she can no longer do. But when she falls off a mountain at the Carl Sandburg homestead, Sam hears her last words, which are "the Sandburg verses." As their sympathies shift to Janice's orphaned teenaged daughter Wendy, Sam and Nakayla realize that if they prove that Janice was murdered, the insurance claim becomes moot. Yet Wendy--and their internal compasses--don't want to see someone get away with murder. Then there's a second death...
June 16, 2018
Blackman and Robinson face several challenges in their third mystery novel. Was the death of a history professor an accident or murder? Why does a teenage girls break into the office and point a gun at Sam's heart? What clues are contained in a old song in the papers of Carl Sandburg?
If any pof these questions peak your interest, go to your public library and check this book out. I enjoyed this book more than the previous one in the series.
If any pof these questions peak your interest, go to your public library and check this book out. I enjoyed this book more than the previous one in the series.
August 31, 2024
Good murder mystery with a nice blend of fact and fiction. Takes place in Asheville, NC so it was neat to be able to relate to the location of the story and learn more about local history (now I want to go back to the Carl Sandburg Home for another visit). I have not read the first two books in the series, but I was able to follow the plot and characters in this book with no problem.
July 29, 2025
Maybe I'm partial to this book because it takes place in the part of the country I live. Mark knows Asheville and all the places he talks about are real. Sam Blackman and his partner Nakayla Robertson make great team. This time Sam and Nakayla go the the Carl Sandburg farm to solve a possible murder. A good mystery which keeps you guessing till the end. Highly recommended.
October 4, 2021
I dig these books, the characters are fun, the American literature connection that runs through them all appeals, and the great puzzles are that the mystery itself. I will keep reading because they are fun, they make me laugh, and they are good company as I go about my day.
August 12, 2024
It's all academic
I'm always up for a good mystery and I was born and raised in NC so it was great hearing about familiar places and people. I've always been a history fan. I really liked Sam and Nakayla and their back and forth with each other. The best part is I did not see the end coming, a very satisfactory conclusion.
I'm always up for a good mystery and I was born and raised in NC so it was great hearing about familiar places and people. I've always been a history fan. I really liked Sam and Nakayla and their back and forth with each other. The best part is I did not see the end coming, a very satisfactory conclusion.
May 26, 2025
Really 3.99.
Third in a likeable series, although I hope jokes at Sam's expense (amusing as they are) don't become a mainstay.
I enjoy the history about a writer (Carl Sandburg in this case) and the info on the setting (around Ashville, N.C.).
Third in a likeable series, although I hope jokes at Sam's expense (amusing as they are) don't become a mainstay.
I enjoy the history about a writer (Carl Sandburg in this case) and the info on the setting (around Ashville, N.C.).
September 23, 2017
3 stars but 4 stars for anyone living in North Carolina Asheville area. The Carl Sandburg history is reason enough to read the book. The local details added to the reading pleasure.
March 6, 2023
Audiobook performed by William Dufris
April 28, 2024
Another wonderful read
Book after book, Mr de Castrique continues to provide top notch stories. He's definitely found a spot on my favorite authors list.
Book after book, Mr de Castrique continues to provide top notch stories. He's definitely found a spot on my favorite authors list.
June 3, 2024
I enjoy this author and these two detectives. A very interesting mystery with great literary history as an added extra.
December 2, 2024
Very good book
December 8, 2024
Book three in the series. Quite enjoyable. I already have book four cued up.
April 29, 2025
Not his best. Plot so thin that the story is forced. Have loved several earlier books
January 3, 2012
First Line: The beep caught me in mid-bite.
Sam Blackman and his partner, Nakayla Robertson, have been hired by an insurance company to follow Professor Janice Wainwright, who's suing a surgeon for malpractice. The insurance company wants to catch Wainwright doing things she's not supposed to be able to do so her case can be thrown out of court. So far, the things that Sam has learned about Wainwright aren't very complimentary, and he believes that this case will be pretty open-and-shut, especially when Wainwright drives to Connemara (Carl Sandburg's home in Flat Rock, North Carolina) and begins climbing a tough hiking trail to the top of a mountain.
Sam, who lost a leg while serving in Iraq, isn't properly equipped to follow her, but he does, only to hear her fall and find her bleeding and semi-conscious. "It's the Sandburg verses" were her last words. An autopsy is performed which proves that the surgeon bungled the operation, and Sam is left with questions that need answers. Why did Wainwright climb that mountain when she was in so much pain? Was someone else there? What are the Sandburg verses? When Wainwright's farmhouse is broken into and Sandburg books stolen, Sam becomes convinced that someone is searching for information that's worth killing for.
Sometimes I'm ashamed of myself. Why is it that, when I find out someone is being investigated for some sort of insurance fraud, I automatically assume that person is guilty? With my distrust of large corporations, you'd think that the opposite would be true. Personal shortcomings aside, I liked seeing how the perception of Wainwright's character evolved through the opening chapters of the book.
When Sam learns that Wainwright has a teenaged daughter, he goes to meet the girl, and she is an emotional, mixed-up mess-- as anyone her age would be when faced with the death of a parent. The girl tugs on the heartstrings in more than one way. Yes, she is the catalyst for doing what's right and for doing what's best for her, but she also introduces a welcome note of humor in the form of a pregnant goat. How Sam reacts to the goat is very funny indeed.
Thanks to Mark de Castrique, I now know that Asheville, North Carolina, is a literary hotbed. Sam Blackman has solved mysteries involving Tom Wolfe and F. Scott Fitzgerald; now it's Carl Sandburg's turn. As long as he writes 'em, I'm going to read 'em. The famous literary figure is the hook that draws me in, and the team of Sam and Nakayla keeps me taking the bait. The two have an easy, witty chemistry that makes the pages turn all too quickly, and the Asheville area is scenic and rich in history. What a combination! I may even read up on Asheville in order to try to guess what their future investigations may be!
Sam Blackman and his partner, Nakayla Robertson, have been hired by an insurance company to follow Professor Janice Wainwright, who's suing a surgeon for malpractice. The insurance company wants to catch Wainwright doing things she's not supposed to be able to do so her case can be thrown out of court. So far, the things that Sam has learned about Wainwright aren't very complimentary, and he believes that this case will be pretty open-and-shut, especially when Wainwright drives to Connemara (Carl Sandburg's home in Flat Rock, North Carolina) and begins climbing a tough hiking trail to the top of a mountain.
Sam, who lost a leg while serving in Iraq, isn't properly equipped to follow her, but he does, only to hear her fall and find her bleeding and semi-conscious. "It's the Sandburg verses" were her last words. An autopsy is performed which proves that the surgeon bungled the operation, and Sam is left with questions that need answers. Why did Wainwright climb that mountain when she was in so much pain? Was someone else there? What are the Sandburg verses? When Wainwright's farmhouse is broken into and Sandburg books stolen, Sam becomes convinced that someone is searching for information that's worth killing for.
Sometimes I'm ashamed of myself. Why is it that, when I find out someone is being investigated for some sort of insurance fraud, I automatically assume that person is guilty? With my distrust of large corporations, you'd think that the opposite would be true. Personal shortcomings aside, I liked seeing how the perception of Wainwright's character evolved through the opening chapters of the book.
When Sam learns that Wainwright has a teenaged daughter, he goes to meet the girl, and she is an emotional, mixed-up mess-- as anyone her age would be when faced with the death of a parent. The girl tugs on the heartstrings in more than one way. Yes, she is the catalyst for doing what's right and for doing what's best for her, but she also introduces a welcome note of humor in the form of a pregnant goat. How Sam reacts to the goat is very funny indeed.
Thanks to Mark de Castrique, I now know that Asheville, North Carolina, is a literary hotbed. Sam Blackman has solved mysteries involving Tom Wolfe and F. Scott Fitzgerald; now it's Carl Sandburg's turn. As long as he writes 'em, I'm going to read 'em. The famous literary figure is the hook that draws me in, and the team of Sam and Nakayla keeps me taking the bait. The two have an easy, witty chemistry that makes the pages turn all too quickly, and the Asheville area is scenic and rich in history. What a combination! I may even read up on Asheville in order to try to guess what their future investigations may be!
August 9, 2012
“It’s the verses. Sandburg’s verses.”
The Sandburg Connection is the third book in Mark de Castrique’s mystery series featuring Private Investigator Sam Blackman and his partner Nakayla Robertson. Every mystery series needs a gimmick these days, it seems, and de Castrique’s is literary. The first book in the series, Blackman’s Coffin, involves Tom Wolfe. The second, The Fitzgerald Ruse, is about a theft from F. Scott Fitzgerald seventy years ago. The Sandburg Connection is set in and near Connemara, Carl Sandburg’s home in North Carolina.
I live in Galesburg, Illinois, the home of Carl Sandburg's birthplace, and I chose The Sandburg Collection for my library book clubs. I have not read the first two books in the series, but I was able to follow the plot and characters in the third book with no problem.
The main character, Sam Blackman, is interesting. He’s an Iraq war veteran who now wears a prosthetic leg and runs a detective agency in North Carolina. He brings his experience as a Chief Warrant Officer in the Criminal Investigation Detachment of the U.S. military to his new profession as a private eye. He apparently met his lover and partner in the first book; her character is a little underdeveloped in this book, but I did not find that too distracting.
Sam and Nakayla are investigating a college professor who is suing a doctor over her back pain. Sam, tailing the woman in hopes of proving that she is faking her problem, follows her to Flat Rock and the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site. When she heads up Glassy Mountain, he follows, but his artificial leg slows him down. Just before he reaches her, he hears her yell “No!” He arrives to find her twisted against a tree and bleeding. He calls 911 and races to her side. “It’s the verses,” she whispers. “Sandburg’s verses.”
From there, we are off an adventure involving Sandburg, his poetry, his love of folk songs, his former secretary, and his home. Even the famous Sandburg goats have a role. The dialog between the lovers is often hokey, and the joking about Sam’s love of barbecue grows a bit old. There are more than a few implausible turns of the plot, and Sam’s ethics are a bit questionable, but I was entertained. The Sandburg Connection is a fun and light read. I’ve never been to Connemara and enjoyed visiting it vicariously.
The Sandburg Connection is the third book in Mark de Castrique’s mystery series featuring Private Investigator Sam Blackman and his partner Nakayla Robertson. Every mystery series needs a gimmick these days, it seems, and de Castrique’s is literary. The first book in the series, Blackman’s Coffin, involves Tom Wolfe. The second, The Fitzgerald Ruse, is about a theft from F. Scott Fitzgerald seventy years ago. The Sandburg Connection is set in and near Connemara, Carl Sandburg’s home in North Carolina.
I live in Galesburg, Illinois, the home of Carl Sandburg's birthplace, and I chose The Sandburg Collection for my library book clubs. I have not read the first two books in the series, but I was able to follow the plot and characters in the third book with no problem.
The main character, Sam Blackman, is interesting. He’s an Iraq war veteran who now wears a prosthetic leg and runs a detective agency in North Carolina. He brings his experience as a Chief Warrant Officer in the Criminal Investigation Detachment of the U.S. military to his new profession as a private eye. He apparently met his lover and partner in the first book; her character is a little underdeveloped in this book, but I did not find that too distracting.
Sam and Nakayla are investigating a college professor who is suing a doctor over her back pain. Sam, tailing the woman in hopes of proving that she is faking her problem, follows her to Flat Rock and the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site. When she heads up Glassy Mountain, he follows, but his artificial leg slows him down. Just before he reaches her, he hears her yell “No!” He arrives to find her twisted against a tree and bleeding. He calls 911 and races to her side. “It’s the verses,” she whispers. “Sandburg’s verses.”
From there, we are off an adventure involving Sandburg, his poetry, his love of folk songs, his former secretary, and his home. Even the famous Sandburg goats have a role. The dialog between the lovers is often hokey, and the joking about Sam’s love of barbecue grows a bit old. There are more than a few implausible turns of the plot, and Sam’s ethics are a bit questionable, but I was entertained. The Sandburg Connection is a fun and light read. I’ve never been to Connemara and enjoyed visiting it vicariously.
September 4, 2012
Sam Blackman and his partner, Nakayla Robertson, have a new case. Having opened a detective agency and riding high on solving several cases in Asheville, NC, they are more than willing to serve as contractors in a medical damages case. A professor at UNC-Asheville, Janice Wainwright, is sueing the surgeon who performed her back surgery. She claims that the operation left her in such pain that working is almost impossible.
Sam and Nakayla agree to do surveillance on Janice to see if she is truly disabled, or if they will find her going about her everyday life, lifting heavy objects or performing physical tasks that a person with a valid case couldn't do. In the case of this surveillance, they follow her to Connemara. Connemara is the former home of Carl Sandburg, the people's poet, and now a historic landmark. It is home to the Flat Rock Theatre and near steep hiking trails. Janice heads up a trail, and sure that this is a breakthrough for the case, Sam follows. He gets to her location as she screams, falls and is killed. Was it a slip caused by post-surgery painkillers or did Sam see someone slipping away through the woods after pushing her?
The case is complicated by Janice's daughter, Wendy. Agreeing to help her, Sam and Nakayla meet her father and aunt, various individuals either in the teaching profession or the arts or interested somehow in Asheville's history. Each provides a piece of the puzzle. Can Sam and Nakayla discover what really happened on the mountain that day?
Mark de Castrique grew up in western North Carolina. He has worked in both television and the film production industry, and still serves as an adjunct professor at UNC-Charlotte. He has written three Sam Blackman mysteries, five mysteries in the Burying Barry series and a stand-alone thriller, The 13th Target. The 13th Target will be reviewed here in the coming weeks. This book is recommended for mystery fans. The pace is nice, the characters well-drawn and the kind of people you can imagine meeting and getting to like.
Sam and Nakayla agree to do surveillance on Janice to see if she is truly disabled, or if they will find her going about her everyday life, lifting heavy objects or performing physical tasks that a person with a valid case couldn't do. In the case of this surveillance, they follow her to Connemara. Connemara is the former home of Carl Sandburg, the people's poet, and now a historic landmark. It is home to the Flat Rock Theatre and near steep hiking trails. Janice heads up a trail, and sure that this is a breakthrough for the case, Sam follows. He gets to her location as she screams, falls and is killed. Was it a slip caused by post-surgery painkillers or did Sam see someone slipping away through the woods after pushing her?
The case is complicated by Janice's daughter, Wendy. Agreeing to help her, Sam and Nakayla meet her father and aunt, various individuals either in the teaching profession or the arts or interested somehow in Asheville's history. Each provides a piece of the puzzle. Can Sam and Nakayla discover what really happened on the mountain that day?
Mark de Castrique grew up in western North Carolina. He has worked in both television and the film production industry, and still serves as an adjunct professor at UNC-Charlotte. He has written three Sam Blackman mysteries, five mysteries in the Burying Barry series and a stand-alone thriller, The 13th Target. The 13th Target will be reviewed here in the coming weeks. This book is recommended for mystery fans. The pace is nice, the characters well-drawn and the kind of people you can imagine meeting and getting to like.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews