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Pecos Valley #2
Pecos Valley Revival
It's early October 1923, and three interesting things are going on in the generally dull town of Rosedale, New the fall cattle drive, the fall rodeo, and a tent revival. Annabelle Blue is excited about the first two events. The last one might be okay if it weren't for the Reverend Milo Strickland's sister, Esther, whose ethereal loveliness has captivated all the men in town, including Annabelle's long-time beau, Phil Gunderson. Still, Annabelle pitches in and helps prepare for the rodeo, which isalways accompanied by a community-wide party and barbecue. This year's rodeo and barbecue are being held at the Gundersons' ranch. And although Phil seems to hang around with Esther a lot more than Annabelle deems proper, she enjoys the rodeo with her best friend, Myrtle Hall, until one of the stars of the rodeo, Kenny Sawyer, falls ill and later dies. Shocked to learn that Kenny was poisoned, Annabelle begins to do some snooping. There is a plethora of suspects to choose from. Unfortunately, those suspects include her own brother-in-law, who appears to be enamored of a woman other than Annabelle's sister; Kenny Sawyer's erstwhile lady love; and even Annabelle's horrid twelve-year-old brother, Jack. Then Hazel Fish, the worst gossip in Rosedale becomes downright frightening.--From front cover flap.
216 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
About the author
Alice Duncan
102 books117 followersAlso writes as Emma Craig, Rachel Wilson, Anne Robins and wrote two books under the name of Jon Sharpe (Pecos Belle Brigade and California Crusader).
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 18, 2016
It is 1923 in Rosedale, New Mexico, and the town is excited as the cattle are being driven down the main street on their way to the feed lots in Kansas. After the last drive through town, there will be a Rodeo and Barbecue at the Gunderson Ranch. Annabelle Blue forward to these events but not the tent revival that is also occurring at the same time. The actions of her beau Phil and her younger brother are upsetting her and taking her joy out of the time.
When a cowboy is poisoned during the barbecue, the town is appalled. The town is scared that a murderer is in town and began locking their doors. Annabelle is looking for answers before she loses someone dear to her. I like this series and have one more to read.
When a cowboy is poisoned during the barbecue, the town is appalled. The town is scared that a murderer is in town and began locking their doors. Annabelle is looking for answers before she loses someone dear to her. I like this series and have one more to read.
August 1, 2023
Completely engrossing. Fascinating insight into small town life in Rosedale, New Mexico in 1923.
The story opens with the fall cattle drive storming through town in a cloud of dust. Big news for the townfolk especially as it heralds the annual rodeo. This means cowboys of course, and bull riding, broncobusting, calf roping and bulldogging - as well as campfires, singalongs, dances and barbecue. Meanwhile a tent revivalist has also come to town, all set up for the big business of saving souls.
The second book of the series, our heroine Annabelle Blue is nineteen and about to become acquainted with the green eyed god of jealousy. Her beau seems to have set his sights on the preacher’s pretty little sister with the voice of an angel. But nothing is as it appears.
With many twists and turns, a few murders and a great deal of soul searching and insight into human nature, Pecos Valley Revival is a truly satisfying read.
The story opens with the fall cattle drive storming through town in a cloud of dust. Big news for the townfolk especially as it heralds the annual rodeo. This means cowboys of course, and bull riding, broncobusting, calf roping and bulldogging - as well as campfires, singalongs, dances and barbecue. Meanwhile a tent revivalist has also come to town, all set up for the big business of saving souls.
The second book of the series, our heroine Annabelle Blue is nineteen and about to become acquainted with the green eyed god of jealousy. Her beau seems to have set his sights on the preacher’s pretty little sister with the voice of an angel. But nothing is as it appears.
With many twists and turns, a few murders and a great deal of soul searching and insight into human nature, Pecos Valley Revival is a truly satisfying read.
August 2, 2024
This one will knock your socks off!
I love Alice Duncan's old fashioned mysteries. Set in the time my grandmothers were growing up and I've heard all about those times from totally different points of view. But this brings back the times when people cared about how others saw them and tried, even if they weren't exactly all Christian, at least had an agreed upon set of values in small towns, at a time people in the cities were making films, wearing short dresses and getting high and dying from drug use that had never really been thought evil until so many young stallers started overdosing and dying. The 20' made the 60's and 70's seem tame compared too the. But back to our story. This one involves a serial killer and the old fashioned farming and ranching towns who still had rodeos and BBQs as their big time entertainment, even traveling preachers who were still making the rounds converting some of the locals to a born again Christianity that was the start of the evangelical movement a hundred years before and even then ,, in the 1920's towns. And people knew everyone in town and believed that most people were generally good and Christian. This kind of mystery helps us see a different lifestyle from people very like my great grandparents and younger grandparents. We see that people were pretty much the same, but with a higher expectation of others and the importance of family, community and church with more opportunity to meet other people than people today who often remain single because there is pretty much not as many opportunities for women and men to meet people except in the bars or in athletic clubs of different kinds where others can meet but not get much chance to get to know each other. Face it, the same things were happening, women had to get married often very quickly because they were playing around just like we do. But these stories are more enjoyable because we're not digressing by talking about sex all the time or turning to witches or the supernatural in order to find the great mysteries from different times, who were a little less focused on reality and real mysteries and help us focus on the people involved without having our attention complicated by fantasy in politics and church so much so that has taken the truth out of modern life and led almost half our country to being conned by characters whose whole public life is mostly a little boy's dream of being famous and powerful, because he didn't grow up in smaller or medium sized towns where people had to help their families and neighbors who helped each other out and only if real strong men whose courage and strength were apparent in most things they did. Thanks Alice. Keep them coming.
I love Alice Duncan's old fashioned mysteries. Set in the time my grandmothers were growing up and I've heard all about those times from totally different points of view. But this brings back the times when people cared about how others saw them and tried, even if they weren't exactly all Christian, at least had an agreed upon set of values in small towns, at a time people in the cities were making films, wearing short dresses and getting high and dying from drug use that had never really been thought evil until so many young stallers started overdosing and dying. The 20' made the 60's and 70's seem tame compared too the. But back to our story. This one involves a serial killer and the old fashioned farming and ranching towns who still had rodeos and BBQs as their big time entertainment, even traveling preachers who were still making the rounds converting some of the locals to a born again Christianity that was the start of the evangelical movement a hundred years before and even then ,, in the 1920's towns. And people knew everyone in town and believed that most people were generally good and Christian. This kind of mystery helps us see a different lifestyle from people very like my great grandparents and younger grandparents. We see that people were pretty much the same, but with a higher expectation of others and the importance of family, community and church with more opportunity to meet other people than people today who often remain single because there is pretty much not as many opportunities for women and men to meet people except in the bars or in athletic clubs of different kinds where others can meet but not get much chance to get to know each other. Face it, the same things were happening, women had to get married often very quickly because they were playing around just like we do. But these stories are more enjoyable because we're not digressing by talking about sex all the time or turning to witches or the supernatural in order to find the great mysteries from different times, who were a little less focused on reality and real mysteries and help us focus on the people involved without having our attention complicated by fantasy in politics and church so much so that has taken the truth out of modern life and led almost half our country to being conned by characters whose whole public life is mostly a little boy's dream of being famous and powerful, because he didn't grow up in smaller or medium sized towns where people had to help their families and neighbors who helped each other out and only if real strong men whose courage and strength were apparent in most things they did. Thanks Alice. Keep them coming.
May 3, 2024
Kindle Unlimited
The Pecos Valley Diamond books are a sweet historical series. I am thoroughly enjoying it - it is Roswell, NM in 1921, 1922, 1923, just about the time my grandmother Tina Velma Goddard Ketner and her new husband, Robert Daniel Ketner, hit town. Actually, they lived in Boaz (later known as Acme) about 30 miles north of Roswell. their first couple of years, and Grandpa worked in Roswell as a bricklayer and sidewalk installer. He was among the builders of the original Roswell Post Office, St. Mary's Hospital, and Yucca Middle School. They were there during those times that Alice Duncan has carefully researched for her novels - one of my favorite family photos is a picture of my Uncle J.D. in the baby carriage beside the new power pole in the yard after the family had moved to Roswell. I'm not sure which they were more proud of, another son, or the electric lights. My mother had wonderful memories of going with her father to revivals - they couldn't go in because he was dirty from work, but she must hear the singing and the 'word'. He taught her the songs and the words. These books bring three generations of reminisces back to mind. For example, when my sister Rebecca married in the early 1970s, she asked Granny for advice. Tina told her to never let her new husband whittle her a cooking spoon out of pine wood. Remembering that accompanying cackle brings tears to my eyes. Those stories, those times were the central core of our large, robust family. They will be missed, but never forgotten. Thank you, Miss Alice, for bringing them back to mind.
REVIEWED on May 4, 2023, at Goodreads, and AmazonSmile. Not available for review at other booksellers.
The Pecos Valley Diamond books are a sweet historical series. I am thoroughly enjoying it - it is Roswell, NM in 1921, 1922, 1923, just about the time my grandmother Tina Velma Goddard Ketner and her new husband, Robert Daniel Ketner, hit town. Actually, they lived in Boaz (later known as Acme) about 30 miles north of Roswell. their first couple of years, and Grandpa worked in Roswell as a bricklayer and sidewalk installer. He was among the builders of the original Roswell Post Office, St. Mary's Hospital, and Yucca Middle School. They were there during those times that Alice Duncan has carefully researched for her novels - one of my favorite family photos is a picture of my Uncle J.D. in the baby carriage beside the new power pole in the yard after the family had moved to Roswell. I'm not sure which they were more proud of, another son, or the electric lights. My mother had wonderful memories of going with her father to revivals - they couldn't go in because he was dirty from work, but she must hear the singing and the 'word'. He taught her the songs and the words. These books bring three generations of reminisces back to mind. For example, when my sister Rebecca married in the early 1970s, she asked Granny for advice. Tina told her to never let her new husband whittle her a cooking spoon out of pine wood. Remembering that accompanying cackle brings tears to my eyes. Those stories, those times were the central core of our large, robust family. They will be missed, but never forgotten. Thank you, Miss Alice, for bringing them back to mind.
REVIEWED on May 4, 2023, at Goodreads, and AmazonSmile. Not available for review at other booksellers.
April 24, 2019
Just a Fun Small Town Easy Going Mystery.
Duncan has a comfortable writing style that probably appeals more to teenagers as Annabelle, the main character, tells most of the story with typical and often humorous teenager viewpoint. A bit slow and redundant.
Duncan has a comfortable writing style that probably appeals more to teenagers as Annabelle, the main character, tells most of the story with typical and often humorous teenager viewpoint. A bit slow and redundant.
October 31, 2010
Life is good for Annabelle Blue, resident of Rosedale, New Mexico. The only flaw in Annabelle’s life is her twelve-year-old brother, Jack, who can’t seem to stay out of trouble and tends to get on Annabelle’s nerves. Phil Gunderson, Annabelle’s beau, has never been attracted to anyone but Annabelle but that is all about to change.
It is October 1923 and lots of excitement in Rosedale. The fall cattle drive is in full swing. The fall rodeo to be held at the Gunderson ranch is ready to get underway. The most exciting news to everyone but Annabelle is the tent revival led by Reverend Milo Strickland. Reverend Strickland is accompanied by his sister Esther. Esther has a beautiful singing voice and the looks of angel. All the men seem to be captivated by Esther including Phil Gundersen.
Annabelle tries to keep her thoughts regarding Esther to herself and manages to enjoy the rodeo with her best friend, Myrtle Hall, and the rest of her family. Then tragedy strikes. Kenny Sawyer, one of the stars of the rodeo suddenly becomes ill and dies. Kenny’s is the first sudden death in Rosedale but not the last.
Determined to figure out what is happening in her little town, Annabelle begins her own investigation and soon uncovers the murderer.
The reader soon feels as though Annabelle is a close friend and understands her frustrations, aggravations and insecurities. Alice Duncan takes her readers, sets them down in the town of Rosedale, and makes the reader feel as though they reside in Rosedale, 1923.
It is October 1923 and lots of excitement in Rosedale. The fall cattle drive is in full swing. The fall rodeo to be held at the Gunderson ranch is ready to get underway. The most exciting news to everyone but Annabelle is the tent revival led by Reverend Milo Strickland. Reverend Strickland is accompanied by his sister Esther. Esther has a beautiful singing voice and the looks of angel. All the men seem to be captivated by Esther including Phil Gundersen.
Annabelle tries to keep her thoughts regarding Esther to herself and manages to enjoy the rodeo with her best friend, Myrtle Hall, and the rest of her family. Then tragedy strikes. Kenny Sawyer, one of the stars of the rodeo suddenly becomes ill and dies. Kenny’s is the first sudden death in Rosedale but not the last.
Determined to figure out what is happening in her little town, Annabelle begins her own investigation and soon uncovers the murderer.
The reader soon feels as though Annabelle is a close friend and understands her frustrations, aggravations and insecurities. Alice Duncan takes her readers, sets them down in the town of Rosedale, and makes the reader feel as though they reside in Rosedale, 1923.
March 25, 2011
There's nothing special about the plot of this mystery, but the narrator, 20-year-old Annabelle Blue, is irresistible. Annabelle is never bored in her hometown, Rosedale, NM, where 1923 promises great things. But she would like to have some adventures before she gets married and ends all hopes of having an interesting life. It's time for the annual rodeo, and a revival is in town--who could ask for more entertainment? But when Annabelle's beau Phil Gunderson starts paying too much attention (any would be too much for Annabelle) to the revival minister's beautiful sister, jealousy raises its ugly head. Then one of the cowboys dies suddenly, and the autopsy shows poison. Annabelle didn't much care for that particular cowboy, but she is shocked by his death. Then there's another murder. It seems to be up to Annabelle to put the pieces together and prevent a third death.
September 30, 2010
For a complete review visit Affaire de Coeur magazine, hard copy or online at: http://affairedecoeur.com/ - January 2011 issue.
July 11, 2011
Reading a book by this author for the 1st time was a pleasant surprise. Good story line and a quick read with a twist of a ending.
December 29, 2013
I loved this book, and it's not my usual type of book! I got to read it because I'm lucky enough to be working on the audio book! I honestly enjoyed this novel, and do recommend it! :)
January 13, 2014
very short, but I liked the ending.
March 1, 2015
Slight, benign cozy mystery, set in a 1920's cattle town that goes down as easy as a vanilla ice cream cone. A comforting way to spend a couple of hours, if somewhat bland.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews