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BOOK REVIEW #THE JULY FOURTH MURDERS: WAR IS MURDER #JAMES GASKIN #PENNY RICHARDS #JANIS PATTERSON #SANDY STEEN #HISTORICAL MYSTERIES #SUSPENSE


 MY THOUGHTS AND BOOK REVIEW

The July Fourth Murders: War Is Murder is a 2025 anthology that includes four historical mystery novellas by James Gaskin, Penny Richards, Janis Patterson, and Sandy Steen. 

The stories follow everyday individuals, such as a midwife in 1775 Lexington, a captain in WWI Paris, a factory worker during WWII, and a band in Vietnam, whose lives are upended by murder. The anthology combines historical mood with suspense, portraying the human side of combat throughout multiple centuries.

I felt that while the novellas are rich in period detail and emotional depth, their small length limits plot intricacy and character development. Overall, it's an engaging book for aficionados of historical mysteries, offering diverse glimpses into American wartime lives linked by a patriotic theme.


BOOK DESCRIPTION

The July Fourth Murders: War is Murder

by James Gaskin (Author), Penny Richards (Author), Janis Patterson (Author), & 1 more  Format: Kindle Edition

Independence Day -- 1775

Dedicated to nursing those in her community of Lexington, Massachusetts, midwife and healer Cora Merriweather is accustomed to dealing with death, but when her best friend’s husband is shot, she must deal with murder, and they are vastly different.


Lafayette, We Have Arrived -- 1917

Rumor has it that someone plans to assassinate General George Pershing during his July Fourth speech in Paris. Strangely, newly minted Captain Algernon Fortescue Cavendish Von Bibber is charged with finding the killer before it’s too late.


Murder Is Riveting -- 1944

Like hundreds of other women, Abby Douglas wants to do her part for the far-away war by becoming a riveter at the North American Aviation factory in Texas. When she stumbles onto the body of her roommate, the war becomes up-close and very personal.


Saigon Sucks -- 1969

When Barbie Farmer and her band land in Saigon to entertain the troops after a long, mishandled tour, they aren’t too surprised that nothing goes as expected. Then their manager is murdered outside a downtown brothel. Are things truly botched…or worse?

Publisher ‏ : ‎ WAGbooks LLC
HISTORICAL MYSTERY
JUNE 14TH 2025 PUBLICATION
264 pages

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