A Killing in Quail County

by Jameson Cole

Coming of age in the summer of 1957, young Mark Stoddard struggles with his parents' accidental deaths, his brother's contempt of him, and his determination to bring down a local bootlegger.

Genres: Mystery

306 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1996

Reviews

[Don Elder · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most improbable, unlikely, impossible "near death" occurrences, well, they occur every single day in 14 year old Mark's life. It is fiction and it's well written, you just have to give this book what it expects... juvenile excitement complete with lust, guns, fights, knifes, snakes, moon shine, biting dogs and a few murders. It's worth the read, especially if you are drinking a few beers every time you open it.

[Linda Meier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read.

[Hailey]

Living with his brother now, after both his parents were killed in a car crash, Mark is living a lonely life in a small town in Oklahoma. His older brother, Jess, is a deputy sheriff who spends most of his free time with the ladies and not Mark. Living in a small town like Bob White, everybody knows everybody and most everyone feels safe at all times, its hard for even a boy like Mark to get himself into mischief. His best friend, Ferret, and him decide to head out for some drama this summer in the hopes to catch the attention of Jess. Mark’s only evident enemy at this time: Moonshiner Lafe Packard.

Now that Lafe Packard’s son has died in jail, arrested by Jess, it is only time for Packard to seek revenge. Mark’s mission is to find Packard, but at this time there was no hope for success. Mark’s other worry is a strange being who seems to have appeared throughout the town, noticed by many citizens. Disliked by most of the townspeople, this man in which Mark refers to as “Tarzan” saves Mark’s life. Right as he was about to come to a chaotic encounter with Packard, this Tarzan man saves Mark.

Soon after, he discovers Tarzan dying in the tent that he believes is Packard’s. He wonders and asks who is responsible for this deed. Tarzan will not release the information Mark is seeking, leading him to believe that Packard is accountable. Will Mark eventually discover Packard finally seeking revenge? Or will it be an unexpected fellow townsman. Does Jess recognize Mark for the 15 year old he is, or is it too late for Jess to realize.

This book is a good read for almost any age for people who are interested in mysteries. Jameson Cole forces the reader to keep turning the page just waiting to see what will happen next.

[Mackay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely, lovely book. It contains a satisfying and rather scary mystery, but it's really about a boy growing up in a small town. How many mysteries can evoke a genuine emotional responses in readers? This one can. Find it and read it.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book! It's "action-packed" but very believable. Too bad not many people have read it.

[Marti]

Passed on to me by Mom.