Deadly Declarations

The Indie Retirement Mystery Series, Book 1

De: Landis Wade

Narrado por: Bill A. Jones

It’s modern day in the New South City of Charlotte, North Carolina, when an unlikely trio of retirees at the Independence Retirement Community team up to solve two mysteries related to the death of a 96-year-old resident. Why was his manuscript about the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence missing when they found his body? And why did his handwritten will dated the day he died disinherit his beloved granddaughter (his only heir), and leave his $50 million fortune to Sue Ellen Parker, the most despised resident at the Indie?

At the urging of Chuck Yeager Alexander, an optimistic soul who loves historical conspiracies, and Harriet Keaton, a former businesswoman with an extreme dislike of Sue Ellen Parker, Craig Travail, a trial lawyer recently ousted from his law firm after 40 years, reluctantly goes to court to challenge the dead man’s will for the granddaughter. This decision sets in motion a series of dangerous events that could lead the threesome to discover the answer to a colonial mystery that has evaded historians for 250 years. That is, if they don’t die trying.

©2022 Landis Wade (P)2022 Landis Wade

Pleasant

A pleasant story and a great cozy for residents of the New South City of Charlotte, North Carolina.

GREAT READ

Craig Travail comes face to face with, and victim of, the cut throat nature of "Big Law." After working in "Big Law" for more than 30 years, I recognize the types. But maybe it is a blessing in disguise, as Craig moves to the Indie, a rural retirement community populated by some very quirky characters, and learns he may not be done with life. The adventure on which he very reluctantly (read "kicking and screaming") embarks includes suspicious deaths, last wills and testaments, court battles, fraud, near death experiences, a 250 year old mystery, and just maybe a new lease on life.

This was a great read in what I hope is the first in a series. The historical mystery at the core of the story provides an intriguing twist. This book has wonderful characters and just the right mix of Intrigue, heart, and laugh out loud antics. I cannot wait for the Indie lawyer's next adventure.

My Hometown

I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book. I am a native Charlottean and have lived in Charlotte almost all of my life of 59 years. I have always believed in the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and celebrated the day. This book was recommended reading from my Mecklenburg Chapter of the DAR. It is a wonderfully spun tale with fun humor and twists and turns. I have been to all of the truly named and re-named places and loved the shout-outs to Park Road Books and to CPCC, where my mother taught for 35 years. I would have liked for the narrator to have given someone a true Charlotte accent and other local accents.
I look forward to listening to more in this series.