dead wreckoning by sylvia dickey smith
Sunday, January 31st, 2010Dead Wreckoning is the third book in the Sidra Smart series. Author Sylvia Dickey Smith describes and develops her protagonist so well, that those who have not read the prequels will quickly feel as though the private investigator is an old friend. It is a time for fresh starts. Sidra has just received her P.I. licence and is ready to take on cases without the assistance of her friend and mentor, George Léger. After 30 years in a stifling marriage to a pastor, Sidra is newly divorced and recently engaged to her adoring boyfriend. She has inherited her late brother’s detective agency and is rebuilding her office after a firebombing. A former client, Durwood, visits Sidra and presents a potential case. Durwood’s friend, Boo Murphy, has been accused of murdering her cousin’s husband, a man named Zeke. Boo has a history with Zeke, as she once fired her gun in his direction. With the climbing costs of rebuilding her office, Sidra has no plans to take on a pro-bono case. Nevertheless, the plight of Boo, the cantankerous senior, catches Sidra’s interest. Especially when Boo recounts a fantastic story about seeing an old, lost pirate ship in a Texas swamp and climbing aboard the once sunken vessel. The sheriff doesn’t care about pirate treasure or lost ships…he is out to catch a murderer and is certain Boo is the killer. In her quest to clear Boo of homicide, Sidra must find the lost schooner. Along the way, she uncovers evidence that her mentor George Léger is involved in illegal activities, as well as centuries-old family clan wars, smugglers and the spirit image of eighteenth century pirate queen, Mary Anne Radcliff, aboard a ghost ship. Throw in narrow escapes after several attempts on her life and you have an exciting, page-turning thriller. Many modern mystery writers use brutal violence, sex, and coarse language to hold readers’ interest. Sylvia Dickey Smith has no need for such. She keeps us captivated from beginning to end with her unique humour, knowledge of South East Texas and its history, well-drawn characters, ample conflict, and dialogue realistically suited to her setting. She has penned an entertaining and satisfying read that is sure to keep her fans happy, while undoubtedly gaining her many new admirers. I highly recommend Dead Wreckoning and I look forward to reading more from this author. L & L Dreamspell (March 11, 2009) 978-1603181389 The prequels: Dance On His Grave and Deadly Sins-Deadly Secrets By William R. Potter for Reader’s Choice Reviews Born in Orange, Texas, she grew up in a society where women had few options other than the patriarchal, traditional roles ascribed by men and spent the first half of her life bound by those roles. At mid-life her dogged determination to expand that world for herself and others led her attend university for the first time. Five years later she had earned a B.A. in Sociology and a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology. She holds licenses as a professional counselor and marriage and family therapist, working in that field for several years before taking early retirement. Shortly thereafter she found her passion and her voice in the written word. In 2008 she co-founded the Georgetown Library Writers College in Georgetown, Texas and is on staff teaching writing and marketing classes. She organized the Williamson County Coroners, a critique group that supports and aids other writers. She has written several short stories and essays for anthologies such as A Death in Texas, and The Story That Must Be Told: True Tales of Transformation. She is a member of the Writers’ League of Texas, and serves as president of the Heart of Texas chapter of Sisters in Crime. She is the proud mother of Jim, Jon Mark, Anissa, and Russell, and is married to William M. Smith, Colonel, U. S. Army (Ret.). Sylvia Dickey Smith

