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The Bug Funeral
 
by Sarah
Shaber
Reincarnation mystery: North Carolina past and
present
THE BUG
FUNERAL by Sarah R. Shaber
is a fast-paced intriguing cozy
mystery. The amateur sleuth Simon Shaw looks back into the past to
solve a current day problem. The North Carolina setting, past and
present creates a wonderful backdrop for this mystery. Doctor Wade
Ferrell approaches his friend Simon Shaw, a history professor at a
small college in Raleigh, North Carolina with an unusual request. Helen
Williams has memories of the life of a woman who lived at the turn of
the century. In all other areas, her life is normal and she has been to
psychologists and psychologists alike. Nothing can rid her of these
memories. She feels she cannot marry her fiance until she knows the
truth about whether she killed a baby in a past life of a woman named
Annie Evans. Will Simon investigate? Simon figures he will put in a
couple of hours of work, say he cannot find anything and then be done
with her while satisfying his friend's request. There is just one
problem --- the more he investigates history, the more credibility her
memories have.
THE BUG FUNERAL captivates. The
mystery and the atmosphere
intrigue. The look at North Carolina now and in 1910 was beautifully
written and opened up an earlier era for me. I had just never really
thought before how it must have been like to live in my home state at
that time. Readers will appreciate the familiar current day North
Carolina landmarks and way of life. Whether it be the K & W
cafeteria or mention of NC BBQ or mention of the Jewish, Cherokee and
Baptist communities, Sarah R. Shaber transports her readers to North
Carolina, past and present.
The
sleuth, Helen
and Annie Evans are wonderful characters that
inspire the reader to unravel the mystery and get to know them. The
reincarnation theme was done extremely well. Each chapter starts with a
quote about reincarnation from from people and characters like Sherlock
Holmes, Benjamin Franklin, Carl Jung, Socrates, Mark Twain, Henry Ford.
Religious texts and ideas from different faiths are examined -- not in
an academic way but in chapter quotes and dialogue that flow naturally.
The mystery itself is quite heart-moving with definitely a surprise or
two at the end. The tone is sweet and tender with a unique puzzle to
solve. Goodness emanates from the characters and yet the puzzle hints
at a darker side. I would definitely include THE BUG FUNERAL in my top
mystery reads. This mystery has a nice Christmas touch. The Raleigh are
descriptions made me homesick for my native state and add an extra
dimension for any North Carolinian fan.
Buy The Bug Funeral Here
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