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Six Old Women and Other Stories
Six old women living on an isolated island in Lake Winnipesaukee; teenagers vacationing on Newfound lake in 1959; paragliders and skiers on Cannon Mountain; an old woman in a house covered in gypsy moths; a man living off the grid in a shack he built himself…
The characters in these stories all keep secrets. They are as tough and rugged as New Hampshire’s iconic Old Man in the Mountain. And like the Old Man, who fell in 2003, their pasts survive only in memory. Sometimes, that’s a good thing.
The characters in these stories all keep secrets. They are as tough and rugged as New Hampshire’s iconic Old Man in the Mountain. And like the Old Man, who fell in 2003, their pasts survive only in memory. Sometimes, that’s a good thing.
196 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 7, 2022
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4 people want to read
About the author
Sharon L. Dean
19 books30 followersSharon L. Dean grew up in Massachusetts where she was immersed in the literature of New England. She earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of New Hampshire, a state she lived and taught in before moving to Oregon. Although she has given up writing scholarly books that require footnotes, she incorporates much of her academic research as background in her mysteries. She is the author of three Susan Warner mysteries and three Deborah Strong mysteries. Her collection Six Old Women and Other Stories explores settings in New Hampshire. Leaving Freedom has been re-released in June 2023 along with a sequel, Finding Freedom. Dean continues to write about New England while she is discovering the beauty of the West.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 22, 2022
Beautifully written stories that really surprised me due to the fact that I didn't expect them to be as engaging as they were ? The mystery & depth of character in relatively short stories was so nice. This book isn't going to set you on fire with action or romance but each of these stories will stick in my mind for a long time to come.
I received an advance review copy for free from booksirens.com, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free from booksirens.com, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 12, 2022
Six Old Women & Other Stories Earns 5/5 Reminiscents…Engaging & Compelling Gems!
Sharon L. Dean, known for her creative and compelling mysteries, has included a compilation of five diverse stories to her list of work. Striking New Hampshire settings, and although some are fictionalized, it’s an area she knows well. She added intriguing, well-developed characters of varying ages, a bit of witty humor, and engaging drama with secrets and surprises. The first and longest story, Six Old Women, sets the tone for a very clever book. Six nonagenarians, varied in personality, physical and mental impairment, and dynamic within the group, reside together on Heron Island, an isolated island on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. A newly hired nurse arrives to cater to their physical and emotional needs. Next, in Shuffleboard , it’s a hospice center, and long ago memories that should stay dead and buried are revealed. Then, Hardscrabble, it’s a paragliding venture, but being back at home, after such a long time gone, is hard to catch up with the past. It's Pavlov’s Puppies, there’s Miss Ellen, a bell, and rumors flying about. Last, in The Man Who Loved Cribbage, the old man is quite the eccentric living out of the way and off the grid, but he loves playing cribbage with Moses. The stories are easy to read, endearing at times, and with a few secrets revealed or karmic surprises, and although some “why-s” may be unclear, this was a very enjoyable read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC from the author. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
Sharon L. Dean, known for her creative and compelling mysteries, has included a compilation of five diverse stories to her list of work. Striking New Hampshire settings, and although some are fictionalized, it’s an area she knows well. She added intriguing, well-developed characters of varying ages, a bit of witty humor, and engaging drama with secrets and surprises. The first and longest story, Six Old Women, sets the tone for a very clever book. Six nonagenarians, varied in personality, physical and mental impairment, and dynamic within the group, reside together on Heron Island, an isolated island on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. A newly hired nurse arrives to cater to their physical and emotional needs. Next, in Shuffleboard , it’s a hospice center, and long ago memories that should stay dead and buried are revealed. Then, Hardscrabble, it’s a paragliding venture, but being back at home, after such a long time gone, is hard to catch up with the past. It's Pavlov’s Puppies, there’s Miss Ellen, a bell, and rumors flying about. Last, in The Man Who Loved Cribbage, the old man is quite the eccentric living out of the way and off the grid, but he loves playing cribbage with Moses. The stories are easy to read, endearing at times, and with a few secrets revealed or karmic surprises, and although some “why-s” may be unclear, this was a very enjoyable read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC from the author. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
July 22, 2023
Beautiful scene setting and characters that stick with you after the stories are over!
January 5, 2023
Refreshingly different mysteries
This collection of short mystery stories are all set in New Hampshire, USA, a location very familiar to author Sharon L Dean. Each story features characters with secrets – some macabre, some unusual, and some filled with poignant yearning. The title story, Six Old Women takes up over half the book, and for me, it had the most impact. Six, long-time female friends are living together in the last years of their lives. They see the need for a full-time, live-in nurse, and with the appointment of the narrator, the dynamic of the community is changed. I found the plot-line compelling and it made me reflect on how elderly people still may have plans and aspirations for their last days, whatever their personal limitations. A thread of mystery runs through the story and the overriding feeling is “Who will be the last one left alive?” Thought provoking and with an imaginative ending, that was my favourite tale.
There are four other much shorter stories with intriguing titles. Shuffleboard has echoes of the film Dirty Dancing, with teenage cousins on vacation with family in a bygone era – but with a sinister undertone. Hard Scrabble finished with a twist that reminded me that protagonists in books aren't always reliable – or honest. In Pavlov's Puppies history repeats with a creepy ending. The Man Who Loved Cribbage is a tale of an unusual enduring friendship and unrequited love, but with a twist at the end that I definitely didn't expect. This is an easy-read collection of refreshingly different mysteries by an author whose work will get you thinking. I received a free advance copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
This collection of short mystery stories are all set in New Hampshire, USA, a location very familiar to author Sharon L Dean. Each story features characters with secrets – some macabre, some unusual, and some filled with poignant yearning. The title story, Six Old Women takes up over half the book, and for me, it had the most impact. Six, long-time female friends are living together in the last years of their lives. They see the need for a full-time, live-in nurse, and with the appointment of the narrator, the dynamic of the community is changed. I found the plot-line compelling and it made me reflect on how elderly people still may have plans and aspirations for their last days, whatever their personal limitations. A thread of mystery runs through the story and the overriding feeling is “Who will be the last one left alive?” Thought provoking and with an imaginative ending, that was my favourite tale.
There are four other much shorter stories with intriguing titles. Shuffleboard has echoes of the film Dirty Dancing, with teenage cousins on vacation with family in a bygone era – but with a sinister undertone. Hard Scrabble finished with a twist that reminded me that protagonists in books aren't always reliable – or honest. In Pavlov's Puppies history repeats with a creepy ending. The Man Who Loved Cribbage is a tale of an unusual enduring friendship and unrequited love, but with a twist at the end that I definitely didn't expect. This is an easy-read collection of refreshingly different mysteries by an author whose work will get you thinking. I received a free advance copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 14, 2022
Six Old Women and Other Stories by Sharon L. Dean
A engaging collection of short stories, beautifully written by talented author Sharon L. Dean.
We all have secrets, sometimes to protect ourselves and sometimes to protect the people we love. This collection of short stories portrays characters with moving and emotional tales of deeply buried secrets that have affected the lives of others, sometimes in sinister ways. Sometimes there are secrets behind secrets, and those tend to be the darkest of all.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A engaging collection of short stories, beautifully written by talented author Sharon L. Dean.
We all have secrets, sometimes to protect ourselves and sometimes to protect the people we love. This collection of short stories portrays characters with moving and emotional tales of deeply buried secrets that have affected the lives of others, sometimes in sinister ways. Sometimes there are secrets behind secrets, and those tend to be the darkest of all.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 3, 2023
I received an Advanced Reader copy from Book Sirens for my review. I really enjoyed this book. It is written by an author I was unfamiliar with. It is a compilation of short stories. Six Old Women is about 50% of the book. Very interesting! Shuffleboard appeared to be an uncomplicated family summer story, until something changed everyone’s life. Pavlov’s Puppies was a psychological story. The Man Who Loved Cribbage is a twisted story of three childhood friends with secrets. You won’t be disappointed! Each story is well written and could have sequels.
December 31, 2022
I am not sure how to rate this book. It wasn't what I expected. The writing was good, excellent editing, but I found the stories.... weird. Other people will like these stories, but like I said, not what I was expecting. With a title that says Six Old Ladies... I was thinking a southern style story. I did not have a blurb to get an idea ahead of time.
I was given the book by the author and BookSirens. This review is strictly my opinion alone.
I was given the book by the author and BookSirens. This review is strictly my opinion alone.
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January 13, 2023I received this book as an advanced reader and was pleasantly surprised. The name made me think it would be a bunch of old women talking about their life, boring. Not in the least. Each story has its own life and I especially enjoyed the story about six old women even though it was sad as well as shuffle board. It had an unexpected ending. Hardscrabble felt like a revenge story but it was most unexpected ending. You'll just have to decode for yourself by reading.
January 7, 2023
Thanks to SirenBooks for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
These short stories were different in a way but dealt with the same topics in their own way. All of the stories dealt with secrets that were kept for a long time and grief, one of them even dealt with revenge. I would have given it a higher rating but I felt that some did not give a reason for the secret they kept.
These short stories were different in a way but dealt with the same topics in their own way. All of the stories dealt with secrets that were kept for a long time and grief, one of them even dealt with revenge. I would have given it a higher rating but I felt that some did not give a reason for the secret they kept.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews