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Alice French Mysteries #1
The Cemetery Murders
Warning. This isn't your typical cozy mystery. There's a splotch of blood, a dab of sex, and a touch of off-color language.
Davenport, Iowa. 1906. Dead bodies are piling up in Fairmount Cemetery at the rate of one per week, and the police seemingly wash their hands of the investigation, saying the killer fled the country.
Everyone assumes the killer got away with murder until novelist Alice French and her partner, Jenny Crawford, take up the killer’s trail. The investigation takes the amateur sleuths through the city’s underbelly—visiting saloons, bawdy houses, and uncounted disreputable characters.
Can they solve the case, or will they fall victim to the cemetery murderer?
Davenport, Iowa. 1906. Dead bodies are piling up in Fairmount Cemetery at the rate of one per week, and the police seemingly wash their hands of the investigation, saying the killer fled the country.
Everyone assumes the killer got away with murder until novelist Alice French and her partner, Jenny Crawford, take up the killer’s trail. The investigation takes the amateur sleuths through the city’s underbelly—visiting saloons, bawdy houses, and uncounted disreputable characters.
Can they solve the case, or will they fall victim to the cemetery murderer?
- GenresHistoricalMystery
173 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2023
87 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Nick Vulich
165 books28 followersHey there Nick Vulich here.
Ever since I was a kid I had this crazy urge to read and write. There is something about a book that can open up new worlds to you. When I was younger I read every Max Brand and Zane Grey western I could get my hands on. Then, I found Kenneth Roberts and his historical novels – Arundel, Northwest Passage, A Rabble in Arms. The detail he worked into them was mind blowing.
In college I was turned on to Frodo Baggins and the world of the Hobbits. I found Kurt Vonnegut downright inspiring. I still remember sitting in David Morrell’s classroom at the University of Iowa back in the late seventies, listening to his lectures on early American literature.
After graduation, I lost touch with my writing self for over thirty years, until I was brought face-to-face with this new-fangled thing they called Kindle. It reminded me of what I was all about.
In the years since then I have penned over twenty books, most of them with an e-commerce bent – How to sell on eBay, Amazon, and Fiver. I have written innumerable history books, started and given up on over a dozen novels.
The most amazing thing is, I can say whatever I want to say. I can write it today, put it out there for sale tomorrow, and within a day – sometimes two or three, someone else in this world is going to connect with what has been rattling around in my brain. How cool is that!
Indie Authors Toolbox is just that, a collection of gadgets and doodads you can whip out when you need them to spice up your writing; learn a little more about self-publishing; or connect with one troubled brain that is focused on figuring out this thing we call Indie Publishing.
Welcome aboard. Hold on because you are in for one hell of a ride.
Ever since I was a kid I had this crazy urge to read and write. There is something about a book that can open up new worlds to you. When I was younger I read every Max Brand and Zane Grey western I could get my hands on. Then, I found Kenneth Roberts and his historical novels – Arundel, Northwest Passage, A Rabble in Arms. The detail he worked into them was mind blowing.
In college I was turned on to Frodo Baggins and the world of the Hobbits. I found Kurt Vonnegut downright inspiring. I still remember sitting in David Morrell’s classroom at the University of Iowa back in the late seventies, listening to his lectures on early American literature.
After graduation, I lost touch with my writing self for over thirty years, until I was brought face-to-face with this new-fangled thing they called Kindle. It reminded me of what I was all about.
In the years since then I have penned over twenty books, most of them with an e-commerce bent – How to sell on eBay, Amazon, and Fiver. I have written innumerable history books, started and given up on over a dozen novels.
The most amazing thing is, I can say whatever I want to say. I can write it today, put it out there for sale tomorrow, and within a day – sometimes two or three, someone else in this world is going to connect with what has been rattling around in my brain. How cool is that!
Indie Authors Toolbox is just that, a collection of gadgets and doodads you can whip out when you need them to spice up your writing; learn a little more about self-publishing; or connect with one troubled brain that is focused on figuring out this thing we call Indie Publishing.
Welcome aboard. Hold on because you are in for one hell of a ride.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 9, 2023
Entertaining
The setting of this book revives the early nineteen hundreds. It is the bitter story of prostitution, corruption, booze and murder. Interesting and sad, this is a story of humanity.
The setting of this book revives the early nineteen hundreds. It is the bitter story of prostitution, corruption, booze and murder. Interesting and sad, this is a story of humanity.
September 8, 2023
Acquired Kindle edition when offered free on Amazon
All in all, this was a very poorly written book.
Given the historical background, this could have been an interesting and engaging tale. Instead it was lots of info dumping the history of Davenport, Iowa, and other things, whether they had anything to do with the rest of the story, all mixed with a not very interesting murder mystery. The portrayals of Alice French and Jenny Crawford were especially lackluster. Neither came across as a fully fleshed character with a unique voice and personality, even though chapters were told through their alternating voices. Both read the same. The crime solving involved nothing more than interviewing people and regurgitating the same information over and over and over and over. (Did we ever find out who was the body in the ditch? Or was I so bored by that point I skipped over it?)
The worst problem, however, was that all sense of 1906 middle America was destroyed with the frequent use of anachronistic idiom, everything from panties (1908) and bra (1917) to meltdown and blonde bombshell (Jean Harlow in 1931) and sex worker (1978). Writing historical fiction requires research into more than just dates and events and famous names.
The majority of the text is dialogue, but the formatting of the dialogue is awkward, with individual speakers given multiple paragraphs when one paragraph would have worked better, especially if it had been enhanced with some description and/or action. The new paragraphs suggested new speakers, and it was confusing to read when it turned out to be a continuation of a previous speech.
And for the love of the best minor league park in the country, please learn the difference between a pinch hitter and a switch hitter.
Lots of unrealized potential here that maybe a good editor could have helped.
I have no interest in reading any further in this proposed series. One was more than painful enough.
All in all, this was a very poorly written book.
Given the historical background, this could have been an interesting and engaging tale. Instead it was lots of info dumping the history of Davenport, Iowa, and other things, whether they had anything to do with the rest of the story, all mixed with a not very interesting murder mystery. The portrayals of Alice French and Jenny Crawford were especially lackluster. Neither came across as a fully fleshed character with a unique voice and personality, even though chapters were told through their alternating voices. Both read the same. The crime solving involved nothing more than interviewing people and regurgitating the same information over and over and over and over. (Did we ever find out who was the body in the ditch? Or was I so bored by that point I skipped over it?)
The worst problem, however, was that all sense of 1906 middle America was destroyed with the frequent use of anachronistic idiom, everything from panties (1908) and bra (1917) to meltdown and blonde bombshell (Jean Harlow in 1931) and sex worker (1978). Writing historical fiction requires research into more than just dates and events and famous names.
The majority of the text is dialogue, but the formatting of the dialogue is awkward, with individual speakers given multiple paragraphs when one paragraph would have worked better, especially if it had been enhanced with some description and/or action. The new paragraphs suggested new speakers, and it was confusing to read when it turned out to be a continuation of a previous speech.
And for the love of the best minor league park in the country, please learn the difference between a pinch hitter and a switch hitter.
Lots of unrealized potential here that maybe a good editor could have helped.
I have no interest in reading any further in this proposed series. One was more than painful enough.
January 31, 2024
I started to give this 3 stars, but increased it after reading the author's note. The fact it is based on historical characters explains why some names are used as if the reader should of course know who those people are. It is a thoroughly believable story based on actual events and people (though I had never heard of Alice French before reading this).
In the author's note, Vulich mentions he deliberately leaves Alice's sexuality open to interpretation, yet Alice herself uses the term "lesbian" and states she and Jenny "play for team woman". That doesn't seem the least ambiguous to me. What does cause confusion, though, is the role of Jenny in the actual story. Jenny is a person who apparently accompanies Alice *everywhere*, and we get no sense of a "why". I don't see that the roles of friend, girlfriend, companion, sister, or any other justifies such togetherness.
This is a gently told tale that actually made me curious to read the next in the series.
In the author's note, Vulich mentions he deliberately leaves Alice's sexuality open to interpretation, yet Alice herself uses the term "lesbian" and states she and Jenny "play for team woman". That doesn't seem the least ambiguous to me. What does cause confusion, though, is the role of Jenny in the actual story. Jenny is a person who apparently accompanies Alice *everywhere*, and we get no sense of a "why". I don't see that the roles of friend, girlfriend, companion, sister, or any other justifies such togetherness.
This is a gently told tale that actually made me curious to read the next in the series.
September 17, 2023
Alice was a mystery writer and was writting a new book. Her and a few friends meet and talked about mysteries and someone suggested writting about the Cemetary Murders that happened in their town. So they all started investigating info for her book. They all had different suspects. The murdered were all hookers from town prostitutes places. All their bodies were left in the cemetary. They talked with all the boss ladies of the hooker houses. They evenually got it down to 4 or 5 suspects- but it wasnt who they really thought did it.
September 18, 2023
Not Exactly What I Thought It Would Be
This was quite the adventure, but nothing like I usually read. Cozy mysteries have very little bad language and usually no questionable behavior, outside of murder. The characters were mostly colorful and some not likable. I stopped reading about half way through and read a real cozy mystery, then finished this to find the killer. Now, that was a surprise ending for me. Well Played Nick Vulich.
This was quite the adventure, but nothing like I usually read. Cozy mysteries have very little bad language and usually no questionable behavior, outside of murder. The characters were mostly colorful and some not likable. I stopped reading about half way through and read a real cozy mystery, then finished this to find the killer. Now, that was a surprise ending for me. Well Played Nick Vulich.
September 9, 2023
A good period piece
Takes you back in time and not only do you need a writer who has met some important people, but a good mystery for her to solve.
Women turn up at the local cemetery after having been shot between the eyes. A suspect is identified, but did he do it? That’s what the writer and her friend uncover. I for one didn’t see the end coming.
Takes you back in time and not only do you need a writer who has met some important people, but a good mystery for her to solve.
Women turn up at the local cemetery after having been shot between the eyes. A suspect is identified, but did he do it? That’s what the writer and her friend uncover. I for one didn’t see the end coming.
December 21, 2023
I found THE CEMETARY MURDERS a very enjoyable read. Vulich introduced interesting and complex characters in this first volume of a series. The plot was well thought out based on real events in 1906 Davenport Iowa. I appreciated the "real" events and the fictional ones being blended together for a fast-paced story. Looking forward to reading some more.
September 25, 2023
Who killed those women and dumped their bodies at the cemetery and why??? Disrespect of Petey??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.
January 7, 2024
Interesting story
Found this book hard to follow on the first reading. So read it again so much better
the second time.
Found this book hard to follow on the first reading. So read it again so much better
the second time.
March 29, 2024
Witty, dangerous, brave women. A look back to 1906 and its norms. Highly entertaining.
Highly Recommended.
Highly Recommended.
Read
July 13, 2024Fun read
The book was slow at times and there were some gaps, but generally an enjoyable read based on a number of historical events.
The book was slow at times and there were some gaps, but generally an enjoyable read based on a number of historical events.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews