Book picks similar to
The Gandy Dancer by Jeff Andrews


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historical-fiction
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All the Blue-Eyed Angels


Jen Blood - 2012
    The Solar Temple. Heaven's Gate. In the summer of 1990, the Payson Church of Tomorrow joins the ranks of those infamous cult suicides when thirty-four members burn to death on a small island off the coast of Maine. At ten years old, Payson member Erin Solomon watches helplessly as the church and its congregation are reduced to ash and embers.More than twenty years later, Erin is an accomplished investigative journalist when she receives word that she has inherited Payson Isle... and all its ghosts. She returns to Maine to learn the truth behind the tragedy that has haunted her since childhood, aided by the rakish mentor who's stood by her side since she was a teenager, her trusty mutt Einstein, and a mysterious stranger with his own dark past.Soon, Erin is enmeshed in violence, conspiracy, and scandal, as she fights to unearth the secrets of the Payson Church of Tomorrow -- secrets someone will kill to keep buried.

State of Rebellion


Gordon Ryan - 2008
    A runaway federal government . . . Western states in revolt . . . California ready to secede . . . Martial law in Sacramento . . . America in a . . . State of Rebellion California is on the brink of secession. Daniel Rawlings, a twelfth generation American whose ancestors fought in the Civil War and aided in the settlement of California, finds that his patriotic heritage sets him apart from those who seek California's independence. Pug Connor is a Marine Corps colonel who is assigned by the president to investigate the growing secessionist movement in California. With a growing economy exceeding that of many third world nations, an independent Republic of California could become a major economic and political player on the world stage-incentive enough for unscrupulous and greedy men to foment a violent rebellion, aided by the Western Patriot Movement, a militia cadre for whom insurrection is a dream come true. Torn between his allegiance to the Union and his desire to be true to his California roots, Rawlings must decide which faction he'll support-a decision that both his friends and enemies are more than willing to help him make.

Rustlers in the Sage: A Western Novella


Donald L. Robertson - 2018
    His years as a Texas rancher and lawman are behind him. His wife and son rest on a lonely hill overlooking the Llano River. Now, he rides through the rugged mountains and sagebrush covered valleys of Northern New Mexico, searching. He’s hoping for a new life, but will settle for a hot meal.

Breaking News


J.D. Rader - 2009
    Nothing is as it appears and soon Bill uncovers dark secrets that someone would kill to protect. As the news story unfolds Bill Ramey and Senator Smith are swept into the funnel of a media tornado that neither of them can control. Though Bill tries to hang on to his integrity, he becomes one of the players in a dangerous game of media manipulation.

What Follows After


Dan Walsh - 2014
    Life is simple. The world makes sense, and all families are happy. When they aren’t, everyone knows you’re supposed to pretend. With their family about to collapse, Colt Harrison and his little brother, Timmy, hatch a plan. They’ll run away from their Florida home, head for their aunt’s house in Savannah and refuse to come home until their parents get back together. But things go terribly, terribly wrong. Colt’s parents must come to grips with years of mistrust and fight for their son’s return…and to mend their broken marriage. In this emotional story, Dan Walsh takes readers on a suspense-filled journey to rediscover the things that matter most in life.

Alchemy


Mike Wood - 2010
    From California, where gymnast Mary Lou Retton was winning Olympic gold, to Cape Cod, where explorer Barry Clifford was discovering pirate gold, the nation seemed obsessed with the precious metal. But for 15-year old Al, that obsession hits a little too close to home when he finds a code-filled notebook belonging to his missing father that may contain the ancient formula for turning lead to gold. Convinced that his father's sudden disappearance is connected to his secret experiments in alchemy, Al sets out to find the truth. He enlists the help of Cammie, a beautiful girl staying for the summer while her marine biologist father tracks a wayward manatee, and together they begin unraveling the mystery. But the closer they get to an answer, the closer they grow to each other, and as the end of summer draws nearer, Al wonders if they can break the code without breaking his heart.

In Memory of Greed


Al Boudreau - 2011
    What if your normal day suddenly careened out of control? Imagine leaving work early for a doctors appointment only to be caught up in a potential catastrophe that you alone can avert. You spring into action but your efforts are stymied by local authorities. By nightfall you find yourself laying in a hospital bed with a gunshot wound, accused of murder. Such is the shocking reality of twenty-nine year old Murhkin Mocado. Unbeknownst to this California native, his skills as an ex-Navy SEAL have made him a target. A powerful, corrupt group of individuals have set their sights on Mocado to help carry out a nefarious scheme. Born of relentless greed and hunger for power, these men are willing to sacrifice countless lives to bring their insidious plans to fruition. However, the purveyors of evil deeds are also being watched by one Joelle Barstow, an operative well versed in the tradecraft of industrial espionage. Initially sent to gather information on the CEO of a specific corporation, Barstow rapidly gets in over her head and uncovers a web of deceit involving big business and government. Once Barstow crosses paths with Murhkin Mocado her skills are pushed to the limit, as she tries desperately to navigate this dangerous and deadly world. Mocado, expertly manipulated by his devious handlers, initiates a chain of events leading to one of the worst man-made ecological disasters the world has ever known. Will the pair escape with their lives in order to bring those responsible to justice? This mystery/thriller takes the reader on a rapid-fire adventure, beginning in the United States, racing through the breathtaking splendor of Ireland, and culminating in Kenya; one of the most exotic countries within the boundaries of Africa's "Dark Continent."

Purling Road - The Complete First Season: Episodes 1-10


M.L. Gardner - 2015
    Though the men must continue on without him, tension remains between the friends. The strain intensifies when a chance encounter with the new sheriff of Rockport sends chills down Caleb’s spine. What is it about Sheriff William that unsettles them all? David’s return to Rockport lands him in the wrong place at the wrong time, but it may just be perfect timing for someone else in need. A handsome stranger catches the eye of the adorable and frantic Muzzy Brown. What are his intentions in town, and will she slow down long enough to find out? A family secret is discovered in Jonathan’s attic, leading him to question everything he knew about his past. More secrets from the past are revealed, complicating the group’s lives even further. Aryl is tempted by old demons. Jean’s birth mother’s reputation becomes a source of pain for Jean. The tension between Jonathan and Caleb finally comes to a head. Will they forgive each other, or will they go their separate ways for good? Keep up with the characters of 1929 by following them through ten episodes of Purling Road, A 1929 Serial.

Adventures of Cash Laramie and Gideon Miles


Edward A. Grainger - 2011
    Marshals working in 1880s Wyoming Territory. Cash Laramie, raised by Native Americans, is known as the outlaw marshal for his unorthodox way of dealing with criminals and his cavalier approach to life. Gideon Miles is one of the first African American marshals in the service and has skills with guns, knives, and tracking that are unrivaled. This collection broaches issues like racism, child abuse, and morality.

Stealing Mercy


Kristy Tate - 2011
    A girl disguised as a boy.A villain with a brothel to fill.A hero wondering why he’s in love with a lad in breeches.Serving murder, mayhem and pies, Stealing Mercy is a romantic adventure set in 1889 on the eve of the Great Seattle Fire when more than the city is set on fire.

Goodness and Mercy


Patti Hill - 2013
    And sometimes, mercy comes at the worst possible moment. At least, Lucy thinks so.After the death of her parents, sixteen-year-old Lucy Richter struggles to keep a promise to her father--to save what remains of her family. Lucy fails tragically but won't allow her dwindling family to disappear. She shanghais her twin siblings, Goody and Mercy, from a Wisconsin orphanage to a Colorado peach ranch and an aunt who is a less-than-welcoming stranger. Lucy is prepared to keep the peace with her aunt, but will her sister's gifts draw unwanted attention and crush Lucy's dream of family?And World War II rages on. Absent men strain the running of Honey Sweet Ranch and force alliances of the most intriguing and unlikely kind, including German POWs. Within these relationships, Lucy is given the chance to discover an unfamiliar and healing faith.With her defining style, Patti Hill tells a story of love and loss with one of America's darkest times as a backdrop. Hill's characters resonate, and her descriptions draw the reader into a drama that is perfectly paced and infused with a wondrous hope.

Elisha's Bones


Don Hoesel - 2009
    Even if just for a week or two. But this year, his plans are derailed when he's offered almost a blank check from a man chasing a rumor. Billionaire Gordon Reese thinks he knows where the bones of the prophet Elisha are--bones that in the Old Testament brought the dead back to life. A born skeptic, Jack doesn't think much of the assignment but he could use the money, so he takes the first step on a chase for the legendary bones that will take him to the very ends of the earth. But he's not alone. Joined with a fiery colleague, Esperanza Habilla, they soon discover clues to a shadowy organization whose long-held secrets have been protected . . . at all costs. As their lives are threatened again and again, the real race is to uncover the truth before those chasing them hunt them down.

The Warrior's Wife


Denise Hampton - 2001
    His kisses awaken her heart and her body in ways she never dreamed possible.Rafe Godsol is determined to take Kate to avenge his father's death and reclaim property stolen by Kate's family. When he discovers the daughter of his foe could be the wife of his heart when he never expected to marry, he'll defy anyone who tries to take her from him, be that her father, his king...or even the lady herself.

Fractured Persona


Harry Krebs - 2013
    A glimpse in a mirror and the evidence of a driver's license prove that Fornek is trapped in the body of warehouse worker Daniel Curtis. Terrified, he insists that he's Richard Fornek, but when faced with the prospect of admittance to a psychiatric hospital, he is forced to assume a new role to buy time to figure out what’s going on. Alone and confused, things go from bad to worse as he struggles to regain control of his life. A little romance, a little murder, and a whole lot of hair-raising suspense unfold as he scrambles to stay one step ahead of the mayhem.

Assignment Prague


Helen Haught Fanick - 2012
    But when he learns that the young spy sent by the OSS to Prague is a woman, he has misgivings about working with her. He had expected a man—a man who could handle his assignment with the help of Janak and his fellow Resistance workers. It doesn’t take long, however, for Janak to realize the beautiful blonde spy has enough daring and resourcefulness to do what it takes in the occupied city. The Nazis are everywhere, but Tereza’s knowledge of Czech and German allows her to fit right in.Both of them have an unspoken determination to keep their relationship professional, to keep distractions at a minimum, but is that going to be possible when every day might be their last? The bond that develops between them can only be destroyed by death, but that’s a real possibility for covert activists in Nazi-occupied Prague.