Mary E. Trimble

Murder at Buckskin Joe, a novel by J.V.L. Bell, is a lively mystery that covers a two-month period in 1865 Colorado.

Millie Drouillard is shocked to meet her husband Dom’s Uncle George. He’s crude, rude, dirty and smells bad. He’s a terrible influence on their two children, Rachelle, 6, and their adopted Arapaho son, Hopa, 12. Uncle George insists his nephew come to Buckskin Joe, a mining town, necessitating several weeks of travel. George has been accused of murdering his partner and co-owner of a fledgling gold mine. He insists his nephew help clear his name before others claim the mine.

To let Dom go alone with his uncle is unthinkable. Millie doesn’t trust George and feels the family must stay together. They make the journey and find a barely adequate cabin for what Millie hopes will be a short stay.

What follows is a parade of likely suspects, all with motive to kill George’s partner, a man as unpopular as George. Millie tries to run a household and be a supportive wife and mother, but her interest is piqued in trying to solve the mystery. Besides, the sooner they discover the murderer, the sooner they can return to their own home and peaceful life.

The author has obviously done her research in the history of Colorado gold mining boom days. She explains in some detail the various kinds of mines, mining methods and equipment used. Her characters are colorful, but believable. I could almost feel the grime of the dirty little town, built to accommodate the needs of miners and not much more.

Murder at Buckskin Joe is a fun, rollicking cozy mystery that takes readers back to a colorful but gritty time in Colorado’s mining history.

Book Review: When the Skies Cry

Posted on November 8, 2021 by Mary

“The magic of life is in the surprises no one ever sees coming.”

When the Skies Cry by Steve N. Lee, Book 2 of the “Books for Dog Lovers” series, is a poignant novel showing the power of a dog’s love and loyalty.

Harley, a handsome black and white support dog, served his master well. The two were inseparable. When his master dies, Harley is confused and miserable. As he wanders around town, he doesn’t know what to do, where to go. Fighting cold and hunger, he can’t survive much longer.

Rachel, a single mom, is having a tough time. Wes, her eleven year-old autistic son and the center of her life, is withdrawing into his own world. Wes can’t tolerate being touched and he’s getting more difficult to handle each day. Rachel, divorced, is trying to eke out a living as an illustrator, something she can do at home so she can be with her son.

On an outing to the park, Rachel and Wes encounter Harley as he’s being tormented by a group of teenage boys. She steps in and rescues the poor dog. But now what? She can’t leave him in the cold or at the mercy of these mean boys. She takes him home. To her surprise and Wes’s joy, they find the dog is amazingly smart. Someone is missing a valuable dog and Rachel feels she must make an effort to contact his owner. But then, what about Wes? He’s already fallen in love with this smart, affectionate dog.

When the Skies Cry is an excellent read, but more than that, it shows the value of a dog’s love. A trained support dog is a priceless companion and one to be cherished. I recommend this novel to anyone who loves dogs–from teens to senior citizens.

Book Review: The Caballero’s Son

Posted on November 1, 2021 by Mary

The Caballero’s Son, an action-packed historical fiction novel by Anne Schroeder, takes place in 1850s California.

Miguelito Robles is a mixed-blood outcast in his own land. His mother was a Native Indian; his deceased father, whom he never knew, a Spanish caballero. As a young man, he is infatuated by a highborn Spanish girl, Elena. While at her family rancho, he’s involved in a scuffle and stabs another young man to death, resulting in a life on the run, alone with nothing but his magnificent horse as a companion.

While on the road Miguelito meets Tiburcio Vásquez and joins his group of tough banditos. The group raids American settlers— gringos—who are confiscating land from the Spanish and native peoples.

Along the way, Miguelito again encounters Elena at a wedding fiesta where she is being forced to marry a much older portly groom. The act of saving her results in severe consequences. In the meantime the raids continue. Unfortunately the courts favor the American intruders over Spanish landowners, leaving the Californios without their own land, political power or social influence, so there is no true justice. The law pursues the desperados from what is now known as Los Angeles to San Jose. In the meantime, Miguelito and Elena have found love and have a son. A bandito’s life is no longer appealing, but how can he leave Vásquez who has given him so much?

The Caballero’s Son, the sequel to Maria Inés, is a passionate story of little understood California history. While reading it, I researched the real life of Tiburcio Vásquez who was a California bandito from 1854 to 1874. This fact added to my pleasure in reading this latest Schroeder novel. The story comes to life with a compelling plot, vivid descriptions of California landscapes, and authentic depictions of period food and clothing.

Book Review: MIGHTY

Posted on October 25, 2021 by Mary

MIGHTY: Vision for the supernatural normal Christian life by Carolyn Wing Greenlee is a convincing testimony to God’s power. The word “supernatural” in the subtitle may evoke magic or paranormal to some, but in this sense the word relates to the power of God in our every day lives, and the blessings that are ours when we believe in God’s love for us. The narrative is warm and personable, as though sitting with a friend over a cup of tea.

Greenlee shares first-hand knowledge of God’s supernatural power in normal, ordinary human lives. She provides anecdotes about her own experiences as well as those whose lives have demonstrated the strength of God’s unlimited capacity. She discusses the value and effectiveness of prayer, individually or the even more powerful group prayer.

Throughout this book the author demonstrates how individuals can gain insight in working out tough situations. She talks about God’s grace and the freedom of forgiveness. She discusses the value of studying the Bible, and the insights to be gained from the scriptures. In her book’s twenty-two chapters, the author covers the many aspects of human life and how it can be touched by God’s sanctifying grace.

Carolyn Wing Greenlee has walked with Jesus for more than forty years. She personally has faced many challenges, including blindness. A few years ago I read and reviewed her inspiring memoir, Steady Hedy: A Journey through Blindness & Guide Dog School. Greenlee has written close to fifty books. She is also an accomplished Christian songwriter, singer and playwriter, using her talents as a witness to God. In MIGHTY she shares her faith so that others may understand the joy of “walking with the Creator of the Universe.”

Book Review—Teresa James WAF’S Pilot, Gear Up/Gear Down: A P-47 to Newark

Posted on October 18, 2021 by Mary

A compelling biography, Teresa James WAFS Pilot: Gear Up/Gear Down: A P-47 to Newark by Sarah Byrn Rickman, brings to life the story of a determined young woman whose skills and dedication helped bring World War II to a victorious end.

Teresa James, born 1914 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was attracted to flying at an early age. Flying by herself by age 19, her early years of barnstorming and stunt flying honed her skills for what was to come later. When America was suddenly thrust into war with Japan, there was an urgent need for pilots to ferry new aircraft from the factories to training schools. Since men pilots were in great demand for combat, women pilots filled this vital role. Teresa became one of the early members of the “Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS).

Teresa knew how to fly, but now had to learn to fly “the Army way.” She and her fellow women pilots worked hard and soon became an integral part of the war effort. Their many accomplishments included ferrying pursuit fighter planes, high performance aircraft with a seat for only one pilot, recognized as the most important aircraft in World War II.

Teresa James WAFS Pilot is a well-written account of the importance women played in World War II. The author, through her personal association with many of “The Originals,” as they became known, has become an expert on the subject of WAFS, later known as WASP. She has written several books about various women pilots with the focus of encouraging young women to “reach for the stars.”

Book Review: The House an Alcoholic Built

Posted on October 11, 2021 by Mary

The House an Alcoholic Built by Bree Tarir is a memorable example of the ravages that result from alcohol abuse, ultimately leading to poor choices and despair.

The author, Bree Tarir, shares her family’s story with candor and honesty. Bree’s father fought in World War II and returned home haunted by the unspeakable horrors he witnessed. He turned to alcohol to cope with what is now known as PTSD. He married and had three children—Bree and her two brothers, Brandon and Kevin. Their father worked on oil rigs in northern Canada, a hard, filthy and dangerous occupation. The family lived in cramped trailers, often ill-equipped with basic necessities. At times their father was away from home for long periods of time while working in oil fields, and finally abandoned his family altogether. Bree’s mother coped as best she could, but they were often without adequate food, proper clothes and other necessities. Time and again they moved from impossible situations to even more uncomfortable ones.

Bree’s mother, desperate to provide for her family, made desperate choices. Bree’s brothers, bitter and resentful found their own destructive paths. At first Bree followed her mother’s example in her own marriage, but soon realized her unfortunate choice and eventually learned to make good, constructive decisions. Through the years, she tirelessly worked to care for her mother and brothers to help them take control and salvage their lives.

The House an Alcoholic Built is a well-written account of the life-long damage alcoholism wreaks on families, a disease that robs children of the opportunity to experience solid, secure lives in a nurturing environment. The author shares her personal experiences with stark honesty and openness, drawing the reader into the despair of a family shattered by alcoholism.

Steens Mountain: Oregon’s Wonderland

Posted on October 3, 2021 by Mary

Steens Mountain from Kiger Gorge Overlook

The backcountry wilderness that surrounds Steens Mountain in Southeastern Oregon is one of the state’s finest scenic and geologic destinations. Steens Mountain is actually a small 30-mile mountain range rather than a single peak.

We recently spent a few days in the Steens area camping and driving the Steens Mountain Wilderness Loop. Visitors have their choice of four Bureau of Land Management (BLM) campgrounds, three on the North Loop road and South Steens Campground on the South Loop road, where we stayed with our truck and camper. The sites, surrounded by juniper and sage, are spacious and each is equipped with a picnic table and grill with central water available. An equestrian camp site, designed specifically for horse users, is directly adjacent to the family campground.

On a lovely sunny day we drove the 59-mile loop, a fairly well-maintained gravel road, which climbs to nearly 10,000 feet, the highest road in Oregon. This is open range country, so we did stop at times for cattle on the roadway. The views are spectacular with steep craggy hills and glacier-carved valleys rimmed with sagebrush and quaking aspen, sprinkled with a few small lakes. Kiger Gorge, a U-shaped glacial valley, is home to a herd of wild mustangs.

The next day we took an interesting side-trip near the South Steens campground to the Riddle Brothers Ranch, a historic piece of Oregon’s pioneer settlement. Bachelor brothers Walter, Frederick, and Benjamin Riddle obtained water rights, built homes and raised livestock on the ranch in the early 1900s. Some structures still stand with handcrafted furnishings, surrounded by equipment used in that time period. The property is now managed by the BLM for its historic values.

Visitors must be mindful of Steens Mountain’s high elevation and possible rapid temperature changes. The weather can be blustery with strong winds, blistery with 100-degree days, or with blinding snow that can fall year-round. For much of the year, snow prevents passage so planning a visit in the late summer and early fall are the most likely times for travel.

Steens Mountain is a worthwhile destination with a wide variety of scenes and activities. It was a highlight of our late-summer camping trip that we’d looked forward to for a long time.

To check weather and travel conditions before you travel to the Steens Mountain area, call the BLM office in Burns, Oregon: 541-573-4400.

Book Review: The Healing of Natalie Curtis

Posted on September 27, 2021 by Mary

The Healing of Natalie Curtis, a historical novel by Jane Kirkpatrick, is a richly woven novel based on a true-life activist and ethno-musicologist. The story takes place in the early 1900s.

Born and raised in New York, Natalie Curtis was a classically trained pianist and singer, a child protégé. At an early age she performed brilliantly until one particular concert, a performance that went awry. From that time on, she fought sickness and depression. Her brother George, thirty, invites Natalie, now twenty-six, to join him in the west, thinking it will be good for both her physical and mental health.

A new world opens for Natalie when she happens to hear the haunting music and witness the dancing of Native Americans. With her skill and background in music, she is able to record their music—both in the form of notes on paper, and also with the “new” Edison cylinder recorder. When Natalie learns that the US Government’s Code of Offenses bans all Indian dancing, singing and even speaking in their own languages, she is determined to capture as much of their musical culture as she can. In the meantime, Natalie appeals to President Teddy Roosevelt to repeal the unjust laws. With her brother, and sometimes alone, she travels the West and Southwest to hear the many different tribes’ music and stories. Her goal is to write a book so that native music and culture will never be lost. She will name her work The Indians’ Book.

I have read, enjoyed and reviewed many books by Jane Kirkpatrick. The Healing of Natalie Curtis is high on my list of favorites. I’m always able to take away something of worth from her stories. Jane Kirkpatrick writes historical fiction, bringing to life real women, women we might not otherwise have heard about, but whose stories need to be told. Natalie Curtis was a remarkable woman and one I hadn’t known about until I read Kirkpatrick’s excellent historical novel.

Book Review: The Woman Who Smashed Codes

Posted on September 20, 2021 by Mary

The Woman Who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone is a remarkable true story about Elizebeth Smith Friedman, an American cryptanalyst extraordinaire.

In 1916 Elizebeth Smith and William Friedman met in Geneva, Illinois at Riverbank Laboratories, a highly advanced campus that pioneered modern cryptography. Soon after they married, Elizebeth and William left Riverbank in response to government offers to break codes pertaining to national security.

As Elizebeth and William branched out into the world of codebreakers, or cryptanalysts, they found that together they could solve secret messages. To them it was fun; to the country they became a vital link toward America’s security. At first they worked together. Using graph paper and pencil, they invented new techniques that transformed the science of secret writing, known as cryptology. Then, for many years they worked separately. From 1920-1930 Elizebeth worked for the American Coast Guard deciphering codes sent by bootleggers and drug smugglers. During WWII, she worked for the Treasury Department deciphering radio codes, especially from Nazi agents working in South America. William became a US Army cryptographer who ran the research division of the Army’s Signal Intelligence Service. Naturally, their work involved knowing the various languages of the countries sending the messages—Spanish, German, French, Japanese.

The world has recognized William’s work in the decades following World War II. He wrote textbooks that trained generations of codebreakers. Those who knew them both often said that Elizebeth was the more brilliant one of the pair. What held her back from public recognition was, pure and simple, gender. For instance: When massive arrests were made as the result of her codebreaking efforts of smugglers, articles and reports expressed amazement that a woman could achieve such accomplishments.

The Woman Who Smashed Codes is a well-written, detailed account of scientific and mathematical achievement. But, more than that, it’s a fascinating story that spans two World Wars, and describes in exciting detail roles the Friedmans played during those many years. The book is rich in the different facets of cryptography, with many examples of codes and code breaking, the difference between codes and ciphers, etc. People who love puzzles will be fascinated by the many examples of codes and ciphers used and how they were “broken.” The book gives a fresh view of both World Wars and the various intelligence services that it took to combat them. Although Elizebeth lived in the shadow of her accomplished husband, she served her country admirably through her own impressive capabilities and expertise.

Book Review–Doxology: A Novel

Posted on September 6, 2021 by Mary

Doxology: A Novel by Tanya Long Bennett is a well-written story of tragedy, faith, hope and the power of the human spirit. The story takes place in the early 1990s, West Texas.

Maria Brown is pretty sure she’s pregnant. She’s happy about the coming baby, but she’ll wait for the doctor’s confirmation before she tells her insecure husband, Billy. At one time Billy had aspirations to attend an engineering school, but those plans were dashed when he needed to care for his ailing mother. Later, he’d gone to work for an insurance company, not a fulfilling calling, but he makes enough money for them to get by. Once they were married and Maria had finished two years of community college, she would have loved to go on to Texas Tech, but they couldn’t afford it. She planned to find work, but Billy was against it—it seems her being able to stay home is the measure of his success.

Maria finds ceramics a fulfilling hobby and something she can do without challenging Billy’s fragile ego. She has an eye for proportion and texture and loves to see objects miraculously form under her hands. Maria also spends time connecting with family: her parents, grandparents and sister. She tries to keep busy, but longs to do something meaningful with her time.

When a series of tragedies occur, Maria must call upon her inner strength to cope. The importance of family becomes even more essential. While dealing with these problems, she begins to question her faith and the purpose of life.

Maria’s poignant story is told in a folksy, first-person narrative voice. The characters are well developed and authentic. The author vividly describes the countryside with its sandy soil baked by a hot Texas sun. I enjoyed this story, was saddened when the tragedies occurred, and rejoiced when acceptance or solutions were found. It’s a story that deals with realistic and transformative views of religion, faith, and trust.