The Jigsaw Priest by Margaret Belle

           This is the second book I have ordered and read by Margaret Belle and it is even better than the first one, The Granddaughters which was also very good.  The author develops wonderful characters and has a unique ability to hold a story line while weaving other stories of characters in the novel through it.  Very well written and I enjoyed every page.  This is excellent fiction mystery about the town priest Father Doyle, town characters  in the town of Graves End New York.    

 The novel begins describing Father Doyle is  writing his mandatory resignation letter due to his age to the Bishop.  Page 1 opens:  

                                              

The description of Graves End on pages 24-25:  "Grave's End wasn't your typical flag waving apple pie and mother loving small town where kids grew up playing T-ball and neighbors held backyard barbeques.  It was a piece of Hell itself where men scraped a living out of the soil, settled their arguments with knuckles and guns, and got drunk at the local saloon on Friday nights.  Their wives were just as tough in other ways and could shoot as strait as their husbands."

This continues telling why Dr Benjamin Hall, the only doctor in town and a primary character in the  novel is here. "He was here because God help him it was his hometown.  He had gone away to college, then medical school, done a residence in Syracuse, and like most of the other young adults in Grave's End wanted out. But he was devoted to his father and while he had planned on simply sending money home from wherever he settled, he realized that as his father aged, he would need to be close by and there was no getting around the fact that the town would need a new doctor.  Now his need to stay was nearing an end, but whether he left after his father died or stuck it out until his own retirement he knew it would not be easy to find a new doctor  for the town.  Not easy at all."

Other characters, the town barber is known as OUCH  and Freddy Russett, the town attorney  is known as  Tater.  Dr Hall's father is in his last stages of life.  Jani Dover is in her last month of pregnancy.  It turns out that  she and Dr Hall had an affair and although he wants to marry her and raise the child she is unwilling, wants to leave and  give the child up.  Ms Catherine Crawford has been  the  parish secretary  as long as Father Doyle has been the priest.  

Millie Bean known as The Widow lives alone on her family farm.  pg 13, "Her parents had divorced the Grave's End way meaning Millie and her mother stayed put after her father got tired of farming and took off.  Millie stayed on after her mother passed away and never left. She preferred keeping to herself."   

Gus Gray is an overweight man who keeps trying unsuccessfully to commit suicide and repeatedly confessing his attempted sin to Father Doyle..  Pg 15-16, :  "No wonder people make fun of me, he thought, I can't even figure out how to do myself in.  Gus pulled on his eyebrow as he searched with a great sense of urgency through his late father's tool box."  

All these will weave through the novel with amazing revelations that solve unknown mysteries.   5 **(*** for this well written enjoyable novel.  

The Granddaughters by Margaret Belle

    Published 2021 by the Author.  I purchased thru Amazon and read this end of July 2024.  Margaret Belle was a new author to me. 

 This is a light mystery with comical parts and a nicely written story about three cousins, Franny, Ellie and Sandy  who get together to reminisce and enjoy themselves near the lake cottage where they spent summers years ago, Orange Lake  Newburg, New York. They are all of vintage years   After their grandmother died an Aunt by marriage into the family inherits the cottage though it had been promised to all the surviving aunts as a family legacy.  The prologue in 1971  describes the plotting of Verna Ferguson and how she did achieve sole possession of the cottage denying access to the rest of the family.  These women were younger girls then and knew little of what had happened other than what their families had shared.    Sandy is now 60 years old and has just finally gotten the courage to leave her abusive husband Robert after a long marriage.  No one knew about the abuse she tolerated all those years.  Franny has a farm she has worked hard to keep and now with the help of a farmhand , who is an excon to whom she gave a chance . and who has been very helpful and devoted, she  can get a way with the others.  Ellie is a writer who has decided to go the  Orange Lake to research information for her next book and decides to invite the  cousins for a mini reunion.    

Backcover

The author shares the inspiration for the book  at the back, a 1953 newspaper story 

Their not so idyllic haven provides intrigue as they begin to research what might have happened to change their grandmother's mind and will. Along this investigation they learn about missing bank funds.   Not expecting the turn of events they will uncover nor the danger they can face through the innocence of the local realtor who rented the cottage to Ellie.  Robert has tracked Sandy down and is dangerous.  The local law enforcement is contacted and is watching but things get out of hand.,  It is an all's well that ends well finale with dear disaster. 

Page 296, copied below reflects the  feelings of local Detective Sam Summers who gets involved watching out for the women at the request of a friend.  "Had three over-the-hill women ever caused this much chaos anywhere?  Ever?"  This is at the news conference and ceremony feting the  women who solve a long closed col case about missing bank funds.  

This is a very easy read, enjoyable and wistful in parts.  a **** 4 star