A little conversation by Bluette Matthey

I come from a heritage of story tellers.  Author Gene Stratton Porter is part of my family tree, but more closely and importantly, my father was an amazing raconteur who enthralled his family and friends with tales of his youth in the small Ohio town where he was born and raised.

Our town was a patchwork of immigrant settlements (Swiss, German, English) which tended to keep to themselves, socially. Cousins often married cousins, and this inbreeding resulted in offspring that could either be extraordinarily gifted and talented or mentally deficient.  The latter, if not too handicapped, became a colorful part of the community at large known as ‘town characters’ with names like Luke McGluke, Foxy Worthington, Dirty Doc, and the Weldy Boys.

This was a gentler time in our nation’s history when, at least in the smaller towns, there was a sense of collective responsibility for these more vulnerable citizens, and their shenanigans on the public stage became, affectionately, the stuff of humorous local legend.  My dad had a knack for capturing the personalities of these various characters, and he gave lively renditions of their vaunted escapades to spellbound listeners who never tired of hearing them. 

As a young boy growing up in a small, close-knit community, my dad was a Mark Twain sort of boy, always in-the-know and missing nothing that happened in his surroundings.  His lifetime experiences spanned over ninety years, resulting in a perspective unique to a person with his intellect and portfolio of memories.

My latest book, Two Murders Too Many, wraps itself around many of my father’s tales and is an adaptation of an actual murder in this small town’s history.  Even small towns have an underbelly of secrets and human darkness where potential monsters dwell. 

In Two Murders Too Many, the small Midwest town of Shannon has such a monster in its midst, unknown to the rank and file citizens whose lives ebb and flow in an orderly fashion, innocent and generous in spirit.  A second, lesser Beast and his crimes are uncovered, shining a spotlight on other shadowy currents underlying the town’s tranquility.  In the end, we uncover a cauldron of subtle and not-so-subtle ingredients that stirs a stew of the human condition.

Bluette Matthey is a product of the melting pot of America’s settlers, with her ancestry rooted in the Swiss, German, and English cultures. She is a keen reader of mysteries who loves to travel and explore, especially in Europe. Bluette currently lives in Béziers, France, with her husband and two cats.

Other books by Bluette Matthey include the Hardy Durkin Travel Mystery series: Corsican Justice, Abruzzo Intrigue, Black Forest Reckoning, Dalmatian Traffick, and Engadine Aerie. Bluette is also the creator and developer of the South-of-France travel app, Potty Poche.

bluettematthey.com                                             

Written by Bluette Matthey

If you would like a book review click here

If you would like your book edited click here

Need help getting your book published? Contact Me.

Subscribe to my youtube video review channel