Haunt of the Nightingale

Garth Ryland Mystery #5

by John R. Riggs

Certain that the mute stranger he has found in his barn is Annie Lawson, the Oakalla resident who vanished years before, Garth Ryland is shocked when two Oakalla residents, both men in love with Annie, disappear. Reprint.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Since 1971, John has lived in Putnam County, Indiana, currently on a small farm southeast of Greencastle. Throughout those years he has worked as a teacher, football coach , quality control foreman, carpenter, and wood-splitter. From 1979-1997 he assisted James R. Gammon of DePauw University with Gammon's landmark research on the Wabash River. Presently, as he has done for the past twenty years John works as a researcher for the DePauw University Archives.

John is author of 13 books in the Garth Ryland mystery series, several published articles, and the Bicentennial History bulletins for the Indiana United Methodist Church. His works in progress include a Garth Ryland mystery and Me ,Darst, and Alley Oop Walking the Dog, both memoirs. River Rats, a coming of age novel, set along the Wabash River in the 1950's.

Reviews

[Alton Motobu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Part mystery, part ghost story, part gothic romance: as Christmas approaches, small town WI reporter sees young woman hiding in his barn. Turns out she is an escapee from a mental institution, a former resident of the town who had disappeared 8 years earlier. 2 men who had loved her are now found murdered, and her ex-husband is suspected. Climax in blizzard as the reporter is chased by somebody. Not well written, choppy, no explanations of plot lines.

[Oana-Maria Uliu · Rating 1 out of 5]

An uncanny atmosphere in a small community... Well, some people may like that. My problem was the fact that I couldn't connect to any of the characters. The only one I liked a little was Ruth, but she wasn't important in the story. I'm quite sure I'll forget this book in a matter of days, which is not a good thing. To wrap it up, I didn't dislike this book, but it's not memorable (I suppose it could have been, I mean it was interesting in the beginning, but then it failed to impress).

[L Y N N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow...another winner from Riggs! This might be my favorite one yet! I do agree that these are probably better to read in order. At least I'm enjoying the fact that I am reading them in that way. I feel as if it is better to follow Garth's development as a person/character, than to have missed that advantage; it makes the series more cohesive.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good mystery.