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This isn't the first book I have read by this author, and I can say I have found his mysteries clean, satisfying, and very well told from a female lead's POV. He is quick to get to the mystery, but this book in particular hooked me with the first line: "Like most people, I enjoy a good wedding." The story then proceeds to fulfill this opening promise that something bad is about to happen that pertains to a wedding, and that the narrator (Emma Shaw) has a personal aversion to weddings which is confirmed by the the next sentence: "Especially when it is someone else's." Through Emma's eyes and the lens of her camera, we see the unexpected deceased, the scene, the community the death occurred in, the pertinent history of the area and those involved, all of which she shares with her subtle sense of humor. Emma, who has a knack for solving crime but no credentials to do so, battles good (local law enforcement that doesn't appreciate her) and evil (the guilty persons who recognize her ability to find them out) while solving the murder of a would-have-been groom right before his wedding. With little support other than what her dog, Blue, and her love interest, Jeff, offer, Emma is a determined and wise sleuth who doesn't shy away from taking a risk as she fights through societal pressure, warnings, and a number of dead ends. This book kept me guessing along with Emma from the first question of whether the groom's death was an accident or murder, to the elimination of motives and suspects until the riddle was solved.
Colleen L. Donnelly Amazon #1 Bestselling and Award Winning Author |
Ruben D. Gonzales mixes humor and genuine emotion to craft an entertaining, heartwarming story. The mystery is intriguing without overshadowing the warmth of the characters. The world-building is nicely paced, keeping readers engaged without becoming overwhelmed. The setting, with beachside cottages and idyllic views, provides a vivid backdrop. Gonzales captures the charm and personality of the Florida coastline. Moli is a witty, determined protagonist. She’s likable, and the supporting characters are equally as likable. Moli’s interactions with Manny and her fiercely loyal dog, The Dude, add humor to the story. The relationships are authentic, showing themes of family, friendship, and second chances. Cabana Bay is a delightful read for anyone who enjoys a mix of mystery, humor, and heartfelt storytelling. It's a fun and engaging story that will appeal to all readers. Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers’ Favorite ...2025 “One may not want to live there, but Cabana Bay is a nice place to visit for procedural mystery fans…Gonzales, the author of various mystery series, writes with a vivid sense of place and character…Moli, especially, proves herself to be a resourceful amateur shamus…This breezy beach read promises a bright future for the sleuthing uncle/niece duo.” –– Kirkus Review...2025 |
Death Under the Steeple
In Book Three of the Black Mountain Mystery Series, we find Emma Shaw investigating the death of a local pastor. Using her ancestral gift of aura reading, Emma must find out if the pastor was murdered before her father is arrested for the crime.
"A feisty heroine, a mountain community with colorful characters, and a twisty mystery make Death Under the Steeple a compelling read. Emma Shaw has solved murders using her ability to see auras, but this time the main suspect is her father. Was the young preacher murdered, or did he commit suicide? The future of the church, as well as the land, depends on the answer, an answer Emma has to find to clear her father's name.
In his third mystery set in his Black Mountain Series,
DEATH UNDER THE STEEPLE, Ruben Gonzales does not disappoint.
Emma Shaw, photojournalist and now photography shop owner, feels compelled to once again stick her unwanted nose into a police investigation. A well-loved, charismatic preacher is found dead in the church baptismal with a bullet wound in his head, and since Emma's father and the reverend had had a disagreement, the inept sheriff is determined to pin the murder on him and refuses to look for other suspects.
Determined to prove her father innocent, Emma enlists the help of her sort-of boyfriend, Jeff and sets out to find the real killer or at least another suspect.
Though she's threatened and physically attacked on more than one occasion, she doesn't give up even when her father hides, not only from the police, but from her, too.
Will Emma be successful in finding the right killer, so an innocent man doesn't have to pay for a crime he didn't commit?
-- Agnes Alexander, prolific writer of over 50 books in the mystery, romance, and western genres including the recent, THE FRIENDLY CREEK - 5- Book Series.
All of her books in print can be found on Amazon
In Book Three of the Black Mountain Mystery Series, we find Emma Shaw investigating the death of a local pastor. Using her ancestral gift of aura reading, Emma must find out if the pastor was murdered before her father is arrested for the crime.
"A feisty heroine, a mountain community with colorful characters, and a twisty mystery make Death Under the Steeple a compelling read. Emma Shaw has solved murders using her ability to see auras, but this time the main suspect is her father. Was the young preacher murdered, or did he commit suicide? The future of the church, as well as the land, depends on the answer, an answer Emma has to find to clear her father's name.
In his third mystery set in his Black Mountain Series,
DEATH UNDER THE STEEPLE, Ruben Gonzales does not disappoint.
Emma Shaw, photojournalist and now photography shop owner, feels compelled to once again stick her unwanted nose into a police investigation. A well-loved, charismatic preacher is found dead in the church baptismal with a bullet wound in his head, and since Emma's father and the reverend had had a disagreement, the inept sheriff is determined to pin the murder on him and refuses to look for other suspects.
Determined to prove her father innocent, Emma enlists the help of her sort-of boyfriend, Jeff and sets out to find the real killer or at least another suspect.
Though she's threatened and physically attacked on more than one occasion, she doesn't give up even when her father hides, not only from the police, but from her, too.
Will Emma be successful in finding the right killer, so an innocent man doesn't have to pay for a crime he didn't commit?
-- Agnes Alexander, prolific writer of over 50 books in the mystery, romance, and western genres including the recent, THE FRIENDLY CREEK - 5- Book Series.
All of her books in print can be found on Amazon
The Lake Nebo Murder - Book two in the Black Mountain Mystery Series
After a newspaper merger eliminates her job as a sport and crime scene photographer, Emma Shaw decides to return to her small mountain hometown to open a photography business. The year before, when visiting the town and getting caught up in the case of her murdered brother, the town’s only photographer offered her a deal on his struggling business. With the opportunity to be her own boss and at a crossroads with her employment situation, Emma decides to face the demons of her past and return home to be an entrepreneur.
Arriving in the fall of the year Emma throws herself into the work of starting the photography business on the ground floor of the old building on Black Mountain’s Main Street and renovating the floor above for an apartment to live in. Emma is assisted in her portrait photography by her ability to read the energy auras of most people. This gift was inherited from her Cherokee ancestors and she discovered early in her life that if she snapped her camera’s shutter right at the moment of a person’s brightest aura, the resulting portraits appear so lifelike the captured images appear to breathe with life. She also learned that when a person’s aura glows in a dark pink shade, they are lying.
"...Gonzales paints a vivid picture of a quaint town, and he expertly weaves the central crime into the culture and history of the North Carolina area. The various characters feel like real people, and readers with similar small-town backgrounds will find them particularly relatable. …A compelling whodunit grounded in aspects of small-town life. - Kirkus Review – February 2022
"...an intriguing and complex mystery...features vivid depictions of small-town history and life as its intelligent heroine uses her keen sense of observational skills to solve murder." Victoria Gilbert, author of the Blue Ridge Library Mystery Series
"Murder on Black Mountain"
Book One in the Black Mountain Mystery Series
Follow Emma Shaw as she returns to her Black Mountain home to bury her big brother, Early Shaw, the small town's Chief of Police. When Emma discovers her brother died in a suspicious accident, she decides to look into the matter herself. Emma uses her ability to read energy auras that surround most people to help her solve the mystery. Suspects are many and leads end in frustration as Emma uncovers clues to her brother's murder.
Amazon Reviews - 5.0 out of 5 stars A solid, believable murder mystery
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2021
"Well plotted, solidly constructed, simply told mystery. Those who enjoy whodunits with a strong, independent, and capable female protagonist will enjoy this book. Will keep you guessing up until the end. Highly recommended."
Amazon 5 Star review
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2021
"… love the plot and the author’s descriptions of this quaint mountain town. I love the main character and hope to read more of her adventures in the future. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good crime mystery"
Book One in the Black Mountain Mystery Series
Follow Emma Shaw as she returns to her Black Mountain home to bury her big brother, Early Shaw, the small town's Chief of Police. When Emma discovers her brother died in a suspicious accident, she decides to look into the matter herself. Emma uses her ability to read energy auras that surround most people to help her solve the mystery. Suspects are many and leads end in frustration as Emma uncovers clues to her brother's murder.
Amazon Reviews - 5.0 out of 5 stars A solid, believable murder mystery
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2021
"Well plotted, solidly constructed, simply told mystery. Those who enjoy whodunits with a strong, independent, and capable female protagonist will enjoy this book. Will keep you guessing up until the end. Highly recommended."
Amazon 5 Star review
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2021
"… love the plot and the author’s descriptions of this quaint mountain town. I love the main character and hope to read more of her adventures in the future. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good crime mystery"
The Cottage on
the Bay
by
Ruben D. Gonzales
Moonshine Cove Publishing
ISBN 9781945181290
Martha Stewart Thorpe, young war bride and then matriarch, lives through the changing times, lives, and family on a once thriving plantation. Along with her father and uncles who came over from Scotland, and Martha’s sisters, they struggle through the years after the Civil War. Read the Civil War saga of Martha Stewart Thorpe and her life in the Cottage on the Bay as she navigates through Southern reconstruction in search of atonement, redemption, and love.
BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS - JOIN THE DISCUSSION
The Cottage on
the Bay
by
Ruben D. Gonzales
Moonshine Cove Publishing
ISBN 9781945181290
Martha Stewart Thorpe, young war bride and then matriarch, lives through the changing times, lives, and family on a once thriving plantation. Along with her father and uncles who came over from Scotland, and Martha’s sisters, they struggle through the years after the Civil War. Read the Civil War saga of Martha Stewart Thorpe and her life in the Cottage on the Bay as she navigates through Southern reconstruction in search of atonement, redemption, and love.
BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS - JOIN THE DISCUSSION