All the Old Lions

Thea Barlow #1

by Carol Caverly

SIGNED BY AUTHOR. FIRST EDITION. HC with D/J. Very small shelf tear on lower edge back cover of jacket. Corners of jacket lightly worn. VERY GOOD,

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller

216 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1994

About the author

Carol is the author of the Thea Barlow Wyoming Mystery series, All the Old Lions, Frogskin and Muttonfat, and Dead In Hog Heaven. Her books were also selections of the Detective Book Club.
Though raised in a suburb of Chicago, Il, Carol married into an old pioneer Wyoming ranch family outside of Gillette, Wyoming where she and her husband raised a large family.
Her books reflect her love of Wyoming and the Western way of life.

Reviews

[Robin Tobin (On the back porch reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite the small town, Wyoming mystery….. I am hooked... 2 more books in the series…. woo hoo…

[Yvonne Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carol Caverly's All the Old Lions introduces Thea Barlow, a young, go-getting editor whose current project involves an old-time Wyoming whorehouse called Halfway Halt. Minnie Darrow, sister of the past owner, is writing a book about the bordello, but not everyone in the small town of Hijax is anxious to read it. Acts of vandalism have Minnie scared, and she asks Thea to come stay a few days until the book is finished. When Thea arrives in Hijax, it's up to her to sort out the good, the bad, and the dangerous, as well as the compelling men offering to help her. Soon Thea is knee-deep in old scandals and new menace, and the stakes are life and death.

Caverly's characters are fully realized, inhabiting western surroundings that evoke the collision that can occur when the past and the present collide. Thea Barlow is an appealing protagonist whose determination is limned with humor and spirit. This is a fun read.

[Dee Renee Chesnut · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue my project of reading the e-books I downloaded when the book was offered for free, and I am reading the e-book in my own version of consecutive order within my To-Read shelf. I downloaded this e-book on July 11, 2015. I can count a book finished reading as a finished item decluttered.
It is a cozy mystery I can recommend to my friends.

[Suzanne Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book combines an entertaining story with a wonderful writing style. A little humor, a little romance and a well-plotted mystery bring a small western town to life with memorable characters and a suspenseful, delightfully-choreographed conclusion. I enjoyed reading this one not only for the story, but for the pleasure of Carol Caverly's smooth writing skill.

[judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, interesting mystery set in Wyoming. Well written, good character development and lots of surprises that you don't anticipate. An added touch of a sweet romance that doesn't have them tearing off each other's clothing. Want to read the follow up story to see what happens in Max's and Thea's future.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a unique blend of old west and modern times mixed together with a mystery as focus. Thea in her new career as an editor goes out to visit Minnie the author of her first solo project. Thea has been working on the company’s old west themed magazine and has become fascinated with the time period and is very excited about Minnie’s project. During her visit strange things keep happening. The house is broken into, the townspeople act oddly and there is an undercurrent of reluctance and tension throughout the story. Old secrets are the fear of those small town folk who oppose the writing of the book. The book being the tie that binds many threads of the story together.
The descriptions of the environment and the characters are vivid and compelling. I felt immediately drawn into this world. There is definite potential for Thea and further books in the series. The downside or drawback of this book there are tiny bits of action or revelations and then stretches that seem unconnected until you reach the conclusion. The ending is worth the read and I think the writing in the stories will be smother in further installments. A good beginning that has me interested in reading more.
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.

[Kerry Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thea, who works in the family publishing business, heads out to see how Minnie, an author who she knew, was going on her new story set in her old home. Unfortunately Minnie's homecoming has not gone as she hoped. With threatening letters, damage to property, break ins and attempted murder this trip wil not be one Thea will forget in a hurry.

A cozy mystery with more than one red herring thrown into the mix, can you work out the twists and real villan before Thea? Great characters and wonderful descriptions of the surrounds make this an enjoyable read.

I recieved a copy of this book from ebook discovery in exchange for an honest and freely given review.

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a total surprise. The story was fantastic and the writing was excellent! I loved this book and will be getting the rest of the books in this series!

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this light, fast read. Action, good characters, and a great story made it work. I really enjoyed the book.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book!

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, though a bit predictable, story! Loved the older folks in the story and the pretty darned dense lead character, Thea. She is one of those women in the movies who goes into a dark alley with a known killer and is surprised when she's attacked. You know the kind, we yell at "Don't do it!" and the music swells. Cute book, great palate cleanser. Not a terrible mystery. Gosh, darn it, it was fun!

[Glen · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very slow mystery about a city girl who goes to Wyoming to visit an author of old western tales. She's a complete fish out of water, and none too bright, either.

After screwing around for half the book, we finally get to the mystery, which isn't much, and Ms. Barlow doesn't even solve it.

I was underwhelmed.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! Loved it, loved her writing style. The mix of Western and mystery was refreshing, as was her clean language. She thoroughly hooked me into the mystery, had me trying to figure it out all the way. I can't wait to read the next one!

[Tiffany Tinkham · Rating 5 out of 5]

An instafreebie book that I was asked to read for a review. Well lets just say I loved the main character, Thea, and her eagerness to solve a nearly hopeless mystery from the past.

Kept me wondering what was going to happen on the next page the farther I read along the story.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique story, an unexpected setting, great story-telling!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nook Free Friday

[Melva · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book by the author I have read. Funny in parts. Mystery included. A good read.

[Roger · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not the target audience If I was I would give it 3 to 4 stars.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done mystery with a heroine who is very out of place. The supporting characters were eccentric enough to be fun, too.

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining story set in Wyoming. Present day characters trying to keep past secrets from being exposed.

[Julie Beeman Cfmg · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of the Thea Barlow mysteries. Cozy mystery.