Wishful Seeing: A Thaddeus Lewis Mystery Book 5 by Janet Kellough

304 Pages
Publisher: Dundurn, Dundurn Press
Release Date: August 23, 2016

Fiction (Adult), General Fiction (Adult), Mystery, Thrillers

It is 1853 in Northumberland Country, Canada West. Ellen Howell is on trial for the murder of Paul Sherman, a railroad executive. No one knows how he got on the isolated island and Ellen denies shooting him. There is a dodgy land deal and counterfeit money. After Ellen was arrested, her husband, George, goes missing. Her dress was found soaking with what looked like blood and she has bruises on her body.

Thaddeus Lewis is the local saddlebag Methodist minister who travels around attending meetings. His young associate, James Small, is infatuated with Thaddeus’ fifteen-year-old granddaughter, Martha, but the feelings are not reciprocated. He begins visiting Ellen which makes people question his actions. He has been known to conduct his own investigations and this time is no different.

The story has a steady but building pace, the characters were developed, and it was written in the third person point of view. The author has a descriptive writing style that makes the reader feel a part of the story. If you are a fan of the Murdoch Mysteries, you will enjoy this book.

Thanks to Janet Kellough and Dundurn for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Saddlebag preacher Thaddeus Lewis uncovers murder and conspiracy in Northumberland County.

A body is discovered on an isolated island in Rice Lake. Saddlebag preacher Thaddeus Lewis is sent on a desperate hunt for the truth when a woman for whom he feels a guilty attraction stands accused of the murder. Meanwhile, railway mania grips the county: everyone expects to get rich off the Cobourg–Peterborough rail line — some at the expense of others.

I'm always on the hunt for mystery/thriller series, and although I started this one at book 5 (oops), I really enjoyed it. I have the other books in the series now, and I'm looking forward to reading through those ones.