All Signs Point to Murder

I love a mystery and this was a good one. Willi, the heroine was new and different, and so was the plot and the town. I liked Quannah who brought Indian folk lore into the story, too. For me, the whole thing about a book is whether I am compelled to read on once I pick it up, and this one kept me hooked.

I love a mystery, especially if there is anything different about it. I liked this one a lot. It was fresh and original, a little Miss Marple, a little Tony Hillerman, but unlike either. I thought the lead character, Willi, was realistic, as a detective and a teacher concerned about her students. Having an Indian Texas Ranger helping her made the read fun.

Willi Gallagher's curiosity and tenacity help her solve several brutal murders but only after some harrowing close calls. The comic relief offered by her neighbors and relatives provide delightful diversion from dark events. When Willi comments that sometimes you can be the top dog and sometimes the hydrant, I laughed out loud. Unlike many female authors, her male characters are strong and capable. The sheriff and his nephew, Lassiter, are admirable, and I liked that.

Kat Goldring spins a chilling yarn, but does it with both imagery (you are there) and a wealth of humor, mostly in the fast-paced exchanges between her heroine Willi Gallagher and the handsome Texas Ranger Quannah Lassiter. The rapport between them is obvious, yet they manage to keep their true feelings from showing and they do so with droll wit. As most writers know, it makes suspense even more thrilling when the reader is taken from the drama of murder to the laughter and comic relief. Kat Goldring has handled this with skill and has given readers a book that will keep them reading until the final words--THE END. The terrific part of this is that Kat Goldring is a new author and we can expect more of the same entertainment in subsequent novels.

Nickleberry is not quite like any other town in the state of Texas. For entertainment, the locals do not go to barbecues or play charades at a party. Instead, they have palm readers and tarot readers entertain everyone. These new age people are not charlatans either as they are next door neighbors. High school English teacher Willi Gallagher has visions that come to her though she tries to close herself off from them. Willi is eavesdropping which she does whenever she can get away with it and overhears two girls D'Dee Oxhandler and Adela Zeta talking about the coven they joined. Apparently, both want to leave but they are afraid the unknown leader will do something to them. When Willi chaperones a group of students on sleep away trip to Galveston, both D'Dee and Adela are killed. The police insist there is no foul play but Willi intends to prove otherwise, especially to a psychic stud muffin in a Texas Ranger outfit. ALL SIGNS POINT TO MURDER is a delightful, whimsical and out of the ordinary mystery that fans will simply adore. The characters are eccentric, colorful and warmly enter the readers' hearts. The lead protagonist is a contrary yet engaging heroine whose independent streak leads her into many problems. Kat Goldring is an up and coming author who should be put on mystery lovers to be read list.Harriet Klausner