“Skeletons in the Attic” A Marketville Mystery By Judy Penz Sheluk: Audio Book Review/Giveaway/Guest Post

by Kathleen Costa
Guest post by Judy about holidays after our review-which includes a recipe for the holiday celebrations! Details on how to win a copy of this book in either print, ebook, or audio, at the end of the review & a link to purchase it in audiobook form.

Skeletons in the Attic earns 5/5 Trunks of Hidden Memories…and Mysteries!

Judy Penz Sheluk’s story introduces Calamity ‘Callie’ Barnstable as she deals with a shocking dilemma. After her father’s “unfortunate occupational accident,” she learns she has inherited his entire estate including his Marketville house of which she has no memory. The dilemma is the codicil which requires Callie live in and renovate the house, and after one year, she can do with the property what she wants: rent, sell, or take up permanent residence. The shocking part of the dilemma is the reason her father made this stipulation: find out who murdered her mother.

Murdered? Now it really gets good. For thirty years Callie was led to believe she and her father had been abandoned. However, her father’s interest in what had happened to his wife had been reignited by the last renter, psychic Misty Rivers, who says the house is haunted by a former resident who loved lilacs. Lilacs, the only thing that would grow on the property, had been originally planted by her mother, Abigail. Her father surmised his wife must have been murdered and had intended to investigate himself, but his untimely “accident” stopped that. It is now up to Callie to uncover the truth. She heads off to her new residence with a new purpose in life uncovering family photos, an envelope of a curious set of tarot cards, a piece of jewelry, and in her father’s safety deposit box newspaper clippings all posing new questions and feeding her suspicions…several things are not what they seem.



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I was thrilled to have joined in on this reading adventure last year penned by Judy Penz Sheluk, and in the process, gaining a Facebook buddy with whom I have also worked as a beta reader on a couple of exciting projects. This mystery, first in her Marketville Mystery, was engaging, the characters endearing, the twists and turns and cliffhanger-style ending made me wanting more. So when Judy announced “Skeletons in the Attic” was being re-released with Barking Rain Press, I was eager to help once again get the word out, especially when I was lucky enough to get a copy of the audio version…so, off to listen I go!

The mystery surrounding Callie’s mother is very intriguing with curious clues, suspicious behaviors, and a cliffhanger-style ending, but I was delighted to find the story was more character driven than an action-packed investigation. I found myself more invested in the friendships Callie makes, her memories of her parents, family with whom she connects, and the hunk next door. Judy provided wonderful characters who acted and reacted in real ways, wrote well the conversations and descriptions to keep me turning the page, and had me guessing about who, what, and why. I was fascinated by the ‘tarot cards’ clue leading me to Google and exploring my own set. Then add the talented and pleasing, yet traditional, narration of Claira Jordyn and my interest has been renewed.



Image source: Judy Penz Sheluk

Claira’s traditional interpretation is extremely entertaining and closer to how many stories are read out loud at libraries or author meet & greets. In many ways I find that to be preferable. She foregoes changing her voice in an obvious manner for male and female characters that some narrators have a difficult time mastering. A woman doing a male’s voice doesn’t always work. Instead Claira uses a very pleasant voice, tone, and emotion to illustrate the tenor of the story or a character’s personality. I perceived the narration to be Callie. Callie herself, reading to me, sharing her own story, and taking me on her delightful ride. It was excellent, and I highly recommend this audiobook.

Here is a fun bit from Judy’s website “Food & Drink”!
“Protagonist Callie Barnstable finds a grease-stained recipe for peanut butter cookies while sorting through a trunk in the attic filled with things from her mother. I was thinking of my mom’s peanut butter cookies when I wrote that part. I’ve never tasted better.”
Link: Judy Penz Sheluk - Best Ever Peanut Butter Cookies pdf

Be a Big Judy Penz Sheluk Fan!
Judy writes the Glass Dolphin Mystery series published in 2015 beginning with the very entertaining The Hanged Man's Noose. Emily Garland, a free-lance journalist, is sent to Lount’s Landing and begins investigating a new commercial project that is slowly building up opposition by the local businesses and residents. Real estate mogul Garrett Stonehaven is determined to turn an old school into a mega-box store, but the locals, including very vocal Arabella Carpenter, object, wanting to preserve the quaint character of the town. That’s not going to stop him…well, maybe murder will. This story may be complicated, but it is very engaging and highly recommended. It is going to be released as an audiobook in December 2017, and the second book in this series, A Hole in One, is expected to be released in March 2018.

And another fun bit from her website:
“You can find the Treasontini on the cover of The Hanged Man’s Noose, which also happens to be the name of a pub in Lount’s Landing. The Treasontini, a blueberry martini, is the Noose’s signature drink.”
Link: Judy Penz Sheluk - How to Make a 'Treasontini' pdf


Kathleen Costa is a long-time resident of the Central Valley, and although born in Idaho, she considers herself a “California Girl.” Graduating from CSU-Sacramento, she is a 35+ year veteran teacher having taught in grades 1-8 in schools from Sacramento to Los Angeles to Stockton to Lodi. Currently Kathleen is enjoying her retirement revitalizing hobbies along with exploring writing, reading for pleasure, and spending 24/7 with her husband.

Holidays North of the Border
by Judy Penz Sheluk

Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October, which is Columbus Day in the U.S. Unlike American Thanksgiving, which seems to be much more of a huge deal, Canadians celebrate much more quietly, of course the same could be true for our Canada Day—July 1 vs. July 4. However, Thanksgiving is very much a family time, with the usual type of food—turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, etc. It is a statutory holiday.



Judy Penz Sheluk

My husband and I got married twenty-eight years ago on October 13, which usually ties in with Thanksgiving weekend, so we usually celebrate by going away for the weekend or spending the time alone together at our place on Lake Superior. We’re both solitary sorts—to put that in perspective, we had about less than 20 people at our wedding, all immediate family and a couple of really close friends.

In Canada, Christmas and the holiday season is much more of a celebration than Thanksgiving, regardless of religious beliefs. The following day, December 26, is Boxing Day, similar to your Black Friday, with the malls open and the clearance sales on steroids. Since both days are stat holidays, those of us trying to make both sides of our collective families happy tend to eat two Christmas dinners (turkey, cranberry sauce, etc), once on Christmas and once on Boxing Day. And if we have more sides (i.e. divorced parents), there’s a brunch involved on both days. This is not a time to be on Weight Watchers! Anyone who has any sort of “say” in the matter will take the week off work between Christmas and New Years. Offices work on skeleton staffs or close down altogether, and after Boxing Day, retail stores tend to be quiet. That week is very much family time. Kids are off school, folks are doing day trips, skiing, skating, hanging out, visiting friends and other family that may live out of town. More food, usually leftover turkey, and too many cookies and chocolate.

Anneliese’s Almond Crescents
My mom is Anneliese, and this is her recipe for almond crescents. The best shortbread you’d ever want to eat. She made them every Christmas, and it was a definite tradition in the Penz household. I’m not much of a baker, so I really miss having these. I dedicated “Skeletons in the Attic” to my dad, and he LOVED these cookies, too. They are amazing.

This recipe makes 45 cookies
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (the real deal, not the artificial kind) 2 teaspoons almond extract
2-1⁄3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup ground almonds (bulk food stores are a good place to find these)
1 cup powdered sugar (put in a sifter for best results)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°
Grease cookie sheets (enough for 45 cookies)
Mix together butter with sugar and beat with a mixed until light and fluffy.
Add vanilla extract and almond extract and continue to beat until incorporated.
Stir in the flour and almonds.
Work flour mixture into a firm dough.
Working with 1 tablespoon of dough at a time, shape into logs. The log should be slightly thicker in the middle than at both ends. Bend into a crescent shape.
Place on greased cookie sheets.
Bake 12-15 minutes or until light brown.
While the cookies are still warm sift crescents with powdered sugar.
Cool on racks.
Courtesy of Judy Penz Sheluk www.judypenzsheluk.com


Like, Visit, and Follow…oh, my!
Facebook--Judy Penz Sheluk
Website--Judy Penz Sheluk

To enter to win either a print, ebook, or audiobook copy of Skeletons in the Attic simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “forgeries,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen November 25, 2017. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please included your mailing address and either way be sure to note whether you want ebook, print, and audiobook.

You can use this link to purchase the book in audiobook form. If you have adblocker on you may not be able to see the Amazon link:


Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.


Comments

  1. Fans of cozy mysteries, audiobooks, and Judy Sheluk will be the winners with this giveaway. Great story and characters, hands-free (LOL) entertainment, enjoyable narration, recipes for you holiday gatherings, and an author you'll be off to explore and 'Like.' Thanks, Judy!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I would love to win a print copy of this book. Thanks for a great post about it & the author. doward1952(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks so much for this wonderful review!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This sounds really fun--I'd love to read it. Legallyblonde1961 at yahoo dot com

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  5. This is a new series of me. I really liked the description of the book and I would enjoy reading it. Thanks for the chance.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  6. This is a new author to me but I love the information you told us about both her and her wonderful mystery book Skeletons in the Attic. I would LOVE to be the fortunate one to receive a print copy of this book. Thanks for the chance!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

    ReplyDelete

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