Dead Man’s Leap

August 8 th 

Dead Man’s Leap

A tension filled first scene with a young teen trying to prove that he can do something to overcome his fear. Trevor has always been a victim of others, bullied and never really sticking up for himself until he decided to take a dangerous leap from DEAD MAN’S LEAP which sets the tone and scenes for many others in this tension filled novel.

Bianca is the town librarian and is helping to prepare for the rummage sale and auction that so many are donating precious items for. The purpose is for the donator to get money for the item and give half for the children’s hospital. Leonard Marshall starts us off with his deceptions and hidden secret from the past as he finds a little package in his basement wondering why he kept it. He kept it but he realizes that it was his weakness, and this one hidden treasure would take apart his life as someone from the past comes into his present. the owner of an inn he welcomes guests but this one would change his life forever. Joel Stanton walked into his inn along with his partner Mara. His presence would not only shake him up but someone else too. Taking a long at the paraphernalia that was out for the sale, Joel notices something that he might want. But nothing was for early sale. Bianca too wanted something called netsuke a Japanese statue that is attached to something else more like an ornament but wait until the facts about it are revealed and how this story revolves around this item and why. Tensions rise and feelings must stay hidden when Bianca and the sheriff as the gather boxes to being to the sale. The statutes the netsuke an ornament with tiny holes in the side where a cord pulled through to attach the decorative fixture as a counterweight hidden under obi belt of the kimono. You won’t believe what this is worth when the storyline unfolds even more. Joel’s presence would shake up someone else who had a relationship with him even though he was married at the time. Things get even more tense as we meet Ernie, Bert, Eugene and get to know Leonard as he and Joel decide to take it outside and their encounter proves deadly.

Bianca enters the office of the Gazette and sees the editor, Oliva and they talk about several things, an essay she wrote about jumping off 

Dead man’s Leap, never having a child and things that happened with friends. Pages 33-35 will set the tone and action for what is going to be revealed later. Bianca enters Stella’s and enjoys talking to Eugene. Things get more difficult from this point on when a huge storm hits the small town, everyone must be evacuated to the evacuation center and then tensions rise, lives are at stake and tempers are thin. But, first we get more of an insight to Mara and Joel as they both decide on where to spend the following day: She wants to join in the fishing tournament and he on a hike that will set the tone for what happens next and the core of this murder mystery. 

Joel and Leonard take a walk that will prove fatal for one. Anger arises, the cause of their argument the netsuke and extortion and something that Leonard did in the past that Joel wants him to pay for more in the present. Dead Man’s Leap is dangerous if you don’t hit the water so did Leonard push him, or did he fall? 

Things get even more tense as Leonard leaves him at the bottom of the cove and goes back to the evacuation center, but you can tell something is bothering him as he and Annette become distant from each other no matter how hard she tries to uncover what is bothering him. Joel’s partner is afraid something happened to him because he never comes back from the hike and the result when she learns the truth will shock her, cause her undo grief and ,will affect Oliva and others too. Just why did he come back and what will the result be for Leonard if the Sheriff gets the story? But this is just the tip of the murder iceberg as the author throws in another murder from the past when bones are found by someone else, and the story and the past will unwind a plot that you won’t believe. The secrets and lies hidden beneath the surface of so many, the lies told as the sheriff wants to  learn who the second person murdered was since it was bones found and some other things that someone uncovered but who killed this person, why and what are the hidden truths and lies that four people have festered inside of them for over 20 years. Mike is placed in many difficult positions. 

Bones are uncovered and no one knows why they have just been found. The link to the past will emerge slowly as several of the town have been hiding this truth for years. Ernie, Eugenie, Bert and Leonard and one more who is not revealed until the very end. The author throws in another problem for Mike as his wife Maggie and her business partner show up and she is upset about having to stay with others in the center and you can tell there is something between her and her partner. Bianca in the meantime has made it her mission to learn more about Olivia and Joel and what she uncovers will lead her and Mara into a fight for their lives. 

An ending so dramatic and so filled with tension, hope and a town that has suffered greatly. What lessons do the people learn? What about Bianca and Mike? Where will they go next? The author leaves us with many answered questions and some we will learn when she pens the next book. Real life stories, real life incidents and a storm that brings a community and town together each character int their own way. 

Fran Lewis Just reviews