A Peace In Time
by Herschel Waller
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Pub Date Aug 27 2014 | Archive Date Sep 30 2014
Description
When Teresa Walker reluctantly visits an old cemetery in the small East Texas town of Balfour with her husband Granger, she suddenly has a vision about a young girl, Sarah Bollinger, who was buried there 150 years ago. Granger is skeptical about Teresa's experience at first. However, after she tells him that she feels compelled to determine what happened to Sarah, he agrees to go along. As they investigate the mystery, they form an uneasy alliance with Jack McAlester, an engineer from San Francisco who has been summoned to Balfour by a series of curious letters. Teresa is immediately unnaturally attracted to this handsome but devious stranger. Together, they seek the assistance of Phyllis Runyon, the sophisticated current resident of the plantation house where Sarah lived. Their unraveling of the dark family secret concerning the true identity of Sarah's murderer leads to the discovery of a hidden treasure, forces Teresa and Granger to confront unresolved issues in their personal lives, and leads to a shocking, deadly climax at the scene of the original crime. A Peace in Time is an intimate tale of love and hate across a century and a half and of the meting out of justice for a vicious murder.
Author Bio: Herschel Waller's thirty-eight year career as a petroleum engineer included numerous positions in the States and in Norway and Egypt. Now retired, he is exploring his life-long interest in writing by authoring A Peace in Time, which is set in his native East Texas. Though this is his first novel, he has also written several short stories. He now lives with his wife in Fulshear, Texas, just west of Houston.
Keywords: Mystery, Romance, Historical, Murder, Antebellum, Ghost, Greed, Secret, Attraction
Advance Praise
Mr Waller has created an interesting, even captivating short story that deals with solving a 150+ year old murder mystery...using the supernatural insight of a (somewhat) tortured mother. And there are ghosts...several of them. In fact, the story is really all about the ghosts; ghosts created by the murder, as well as the ghosts that haunt of many of the characters. Waller (obviously a talented young writer...this being his first novella) has cleverly allowed us look a bit below the surface and see things that might haunt many, if not all, of us.This is a good, quick read that I recommend to all who love mysteries. - George Peky
A terrific mystery, the plot intertwining the past and present in a "who done it" that keeps the reader turning the pages to see what will happen next. I couldn't rest until the mystery was solved, until the last page was read. A really great read!!! - Cynthia Judge
I love thrillers and mysteries-this one had me wanting to read as quickly as I could because I wanted to know what was about to happen. Reminds me of Grisham and Clancy in writing style and that's 2 pretty good ones to be compared with. Highly recommend this book---you can say I was one of the first to read this novel. -Robert Bonds
Marketing Plan
Available in Paperback and Ebook
Available in Paperback and Ebook
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781622876327 |
| PRICE | $14.95 (USD) |
Average rating from 20 members
Featured Reviews
Rosemary S, Librarian
Peace in Time by Herschel Waller. Published by First Edition
August 29, 2014 by cayocosta72 Leave a comment
Teresa Walker never expected anything to come of the walk she took in an old Texas graveyard. But while strolling through the grounds, she’s overcome with visions of a girl named Sarah Bollinger who died 150 years earlier. Teresa feels compelled to find out more about the girl even though her husband is skeptical. She soon finds herself in the company of Jack McAlester, a man visiting Texas from San Francisco because of a series of bizarre letters he’s received. Together they ask Phyllis Runyon, the current owner of Sarah’s plantation home for help. Here they discover the truth about Sarah’s death, her killer and a missing treasure.
Southern Gothic at it’s best. Graveyards, old plantations, buried secrets and lost treasure – a compulsive read
Mary B, Reviewer
A Peace In Time by Herschel Waller is a well written historical mystery suspense novel. I am very surprised that this is his first full length work.
Teresa and her husband Granger are visiting an old cemetery in Texas when Teresa has a vision about Sarah, a girl that died 150 years ago. In the vision Teresa feels that Sarah is reaching out to her to help solve the mystery of her death. After convincing her husband that they need to help the dead girl, they begin to try to unravel the ancient mystery. With the help of other characters that they meet during the investigation will they be able to figure out what happened so long ago or will they be joining Sarah in death?
This book is a mystery and a ghost book blended together nicely. There is a lot of suspense and tension that I felt while reading this book. The author is able to evoke these feelings just with his written word. The writing is descriptive and pulled me in at the beginning and pulled me along to the wild finish.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. I found myself turning the pages as fast as I could to find out what was going to happen next. The characters are well developed and realistic, including the ghosts, ( I know ghosts are not real but if they were, these ghosts would be realistic). I found myself caring about what was going to happen to all of them and worrying about them.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries or ghost stories.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and First Edition Design Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Janka H, Educator
Teresa Granger and her husband Granger and Jack McAlester meet because of an strange connection to Sarah Bollinger, a young girl murdered some 150 years ago in Balfour. Teresa has visions and Jack was sent very old letters signed by Sarah B. Together they give their shot in sleuthing the old mystery. But what is more mysterious is that they feel some strange energy between them, as if they were not just sleuthing, but also re-enacting the old mystery...
The topic is very interesting - like solving an old murder based on supernatural - let's say - input? You got me on the first sentence. The dynamics between Granger and Teresa is interesting, too, as they have some unsolved issues between them. I also love the topic of justice finally done.
But my interest started to fade a bit as the author started to play it safely. I would love to have more questions, more intellectual game, more real sleuthing. Here the heroes are a bit passive, the information come easily to them, or their wildest deductions just come true.
I also don't like the dynamics between the trio, mainly because of Teresa, who is behaving quite immaturely for a woman in her forties. But I like Granger's behaviour in this situation, he is a rock of trust and a very solid guy.
All in all, there is a potential in this author. I hope he will work on it! I would gladly read his next book in this hoping.
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