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Honey Whiskey Murders
Elsie Edens, the teen detective who found her sister’s killer in Seeking Signs, is back. In her early 20s now and solving cases on her own, Elsie has developed into a full-fledged investigator working for a prominent Clinton, Iowa, agency. It’s Sunday, November 5, 1922, and in the local paper, rural Iowa residents are shocked to read the headline “Coldest-Blooded Double Murder in the History of Clinton County.” A well-known, respected husband and wife were brutally slain the previous night in their country store in Low Moor, Iowa. The local authorities, already under scrutiny for a rash of cold cases, call for help from an aging private investigator who sends Elsie, his young and ambitious protégée, to examine the crime scene.
Prohibition complicates her inquiries and leads her to an old friend who helps her uncover a motive for the murders. It seems the Chicago Outfit has turned its attention to a small town in Iowa’s Driftless Area, a rocky section of limestone bluffs, river bottoms, and immigrant families determined to survive.
During her investigation, Elsie is forced to relive a gruesome incident from her past — one that proves locals like her are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves.
Honey Whiskey Murders is based on actual events. The novel shares the historical fiction spotlight with two other crime thrillers: The Wettest County in the World, the historical novel that inspired the movie Lawless, and Road to Perdition, the graphic novel that preceded the film of the same name.
Prohibition complicates her inquiries and leads her to an old friend who helps her uncover a motive for the murders. It seems the Chicago Outfit has turned its attention to a small town in Iowa’s Driftless Area, a rocky section of limestone bluffs, river bottoms, and immigrant families determined to survive.
During her investigation, Elsie is forced to relive a gruesome incident from her past — one that proves locals like her are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves.
Honey Whiskey Murders is based on actual events. The novel shares the historical fiction spotlight with two other crime thrillers: The Wettest County in the World, the historical novel that inspired the movie Lawless, and Road to Perdition, the graphic novel that preceded the film of the same name.
- GenresMystery
202 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2017
8 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 28, 2017
You don't have to read her first book, but it takes off from it. It is a great quick good read and I recommend it. I did not want to put the book down. It is a lot of local true history with added entertaining fiction. I love history and this kept me wanting to know more. It does not drag on. My eyes don't work well any more and reading is an effort. I can only read for a short period of time and this book was worth the effort.
March 31, 2020
( Format : Audiobook )
"A honey bee has no secrets."
Clinton County, 1922, a time of prohibition opening up opportunities to make both money and reputation. An husband and wife double murder is investigated by a young woman, Elsie Edens, now working for the elderly proprietor of a detective agency, whose own sister had been killed some years before. She'd not believed the verdict of suicide then and had looked I to the death with the he!p of a school friend, Walter. Reunited again, the couple dig deep into the concealed life of the community.
Told in the first person by Elsie heself , with occasional entries by a young man named Tino, the reader enjoys the full benefit of Elsie's observations and memories, together with her somewhat unconventional, for a detective, outlook on the law and life. It mixes history and fiction in a very personal but vivid way, setting a clear picture of the times and attitudes then prevelant, and felt very real and present. The conclusion delivered a sense of satisfactikn. Narration by Cindy Pillar was excellent, her pleasant voice capturing the nuances of Elsie's thoughts, her pacing and emotional impact set just right. My only reservation is that, when changing to the alternate speaker, there was no pause to indicate the move, which proved confusing on occasion.
This is an absolutely fitting book, author Stack Mercado successfully putting herself inside her main character to deliver a portrait of a place and time as well as an exciting and unusual crime thriller. I am very grateful to the rights holder of Honey Whiskey Murders, who, at my request freely gifted me with a complimentary copy via Audiobook Boom. Thank you. It was both enjoyable and instructive. I especially liked the excellent description of the life cycle of the honey bee, succinct yet full and fitting perfectly in context. This is, apparently, the second book in a series following the career of Elsie Edens. Not having read book one in no way affected my pleasure in the reading of this one, but I will certainly now go back to read book one as well as look out for any future stories. Recommended.
"A honey bee has no secrets."
Clinton County, 1922, a time of prohibition opening up opportunities to make both money and reputation. An husband and wife double murder is investigated by a young woman, Elsie Edens, now working for the elderly proprietor of a detective agency, whose own sister had been killed some years before. She'd not believed the verdict of suicide then and had looked I to the death with the he!p of a school friend, Walter. Reunited again, the couple dig deep into the concealed life of the community.
Told in the first person by Elsie heself , with occasional entries by a young man named Tino, the reader enjoys the full benefit of Elsie's observations and memories, together with her somewhat unconventional, for a detective, outlook on the law and life. It mixes history and fiction in a very personal but vivid way, setting a clear picture of the times and attitudes then prevelant, and felt very real and present. The conclusion delivered a sense of satisfactikn. Narration by Cindy Pillar was excellent, her pleasant voice capturing the nuances of Elsie's thoughts, her pacing and emotional impact set just right. My only reservation is that, when changing to the alternate speaker, there was no pause to indicate the move, which proved confusing on occasion.
This is an absolutely fitting book, author Stack Mercado successfully putting herself inside her main character to deliver a portrait of a place and time as well as an exciting and unusual crime thriller. I am very grateful to the rights holder of Honey Whiskey Murders, who, at my request freely gifted me with a complimentary copy via Audiobook Boom. Thank you. It was both enjoyable and instructive. I especially liked the excellent description of the life cycle of the honey bee, succinct yet full and fitting perfectly in context. This is, apparently, the second book in a series following the career of Elsie Edens. Not having read book one in no way affected my pleasure in the reading of this one, but I will certainly now go back to read book one as well as look out for any future stories. Recommended.
June 13, 2020
AUDIOBOOK
Narrated by Cindy Piller
Private investigator Elsie Edens get pulled in to investigate the brutal murders of a local shopkeeper and his wife. Not the simple robbery it seems at first glance, she is quickly uncovers ties to underground whiskey running, Al Capone and Chicago mafia, and her own tragic past. The second book of the series, it can easily stand alone, but there are many references to Elsie’s past and her development into a professional detective. Elsie is a fun fresh heroine with plenty of potential and plenty of baggage.
Cindy Piller does a beautiful job bringing Elsie and other characters to life. She transitions smoothly and clearly between Elsie and hardened criminal Tino Cerrone with ease and distinction. I’m looking forward to reading/listening to more of Elsie.
Narrated by Cindy Piller
Private investigator Elsie Edens get pulled in to investigate the brutal murders of a local shopkeeper and his wife. Not the simple robbery it seems at first glance, she is quickly uncovers ties to underground whiskey running, Al Capone and Chicago mafia, and her own tragic past. The second book of the series, it can easily stand alone, but there are many references to Elsie’s past and her development into a professional detective. Elsie is a fun fresh heroine with plenty of potential and plenty of baggage.
Cindy Piller does a beautiful job bringing Elsie and other characters to life. She transitions smoothly and clearly between Elsie and hardened criminal Tino Cerrone with ease and distinction. I’m looking forward to reading/listening to more of Elsie.
January 25, 2018
This is the second book in a series about private investigator Elsie Edens. In the first book, Elsie is a young girl that ends up solving her sister's murder. Now working as a private investigator Elsie is hired to figure out who murdered a couple Low Moor Iowa. This is a fun easy read about a murder that takes place in Clinton County, Iowa. Elsie ends up with the help of a former school mate and travels around Clinton and Jackson Counties to solve this murder. Along the way she learns about bees, bee hives, and the production of honey. A reader may also begin to wonder if there might be some relationship developing between Elsie and Walter the former school mate that she is working with to solve this crime.
January 25, 2018
Well written, believable, fast-paced historical fiction novel. I loved getting to know the main character, Elsie Edens, in the first novel she appeared in, "Seeking Signs", so it's great to see her back on the case and trying to solve a different crime. The author does a wonderful job weaving local history into the story as well. If you're a fan of historical fiction that mixes a little bit of mystery with a little bit of romance with a little bit of detective story then you'll love "Honey Whiskey Murders"!
January 28, 2018
Elsie is definitely growing on me as she matures and I look forward to more mysteries in this series.
Even though I grew up in the eastern Iowa locale of the story, it seems I was ignorant of much of the history of the area. The author has certainly done her research. The bootlegging didn't surprise me, but the extent of the KKK in the community did surprise me. The history of Hurstville and the lime kilns was particularly interesting. In fact, I would say that I enjoyed the historical details as much as the storyline.
Even though I grew up in the eastern Iowa locale of the story, it seems I was ignorant of much of the history of the area. The author has certainly done her research. The bootlegging didn't surprise me, but the extent of the KKK in the community did surprise me. The history of Hurstville and the lime kilns was particularly interesting. In fact, I would say that I enjoyed the historical details as much as the storyline.
March 23, 2020
A really gripping historical mystery novel based on true events in the Midwest during the Prohibition era. Elsie is a private investigator in her early twenties who has had a hard and interesting life. She needs to solve a particularly brutal murder. The historical details are obviously very well researched, and this really adds to the story. Excellent!
Narrator Cindy Piller has a way of intensifying aspects of the story and making it even better.
I won a free audiobook copy in a giveaway!
Narrator Cindy Piller has a way of intensifying aspects of the story and making it even better.
I won a free audiobook copy in a giveaway!
February 11, 2018
A wonderful, Prohibition era story that takes place in eastern Iowa and Chicago. Elsie, the main character (first introduced in Mercado's first novel) is grown up and working as a detective trying to solve another local murder. A very brutal murder. Suspenseful, colorful, and full of well-researched local history.
August 24, 2018
interesting history and liked all the local references. Easy read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2020
Local author----easy read---lots of references to Clinton, Low Moor, and Maquoketa. Her first book was better.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews