Blog Tour: Review of Between the Lies by Cynthia A. Graham

Author: Cynthia A. Graham

Publisher: Blank Slate PRess

Date of publication: March 2018

When the corrupt sheriff of Broken Creek, Arkansas detains a young black boy on charges of accidental homicide, his sister asks Hick Blackburn, Sheriff of Cherokee Crossing, to investigate. Hick is reluctant at first. Not only is Broken Creek out of his jurisdiction, but Hick and Sheriff Brewster have a history, and Hick knows Brewster won’t look kindly on his interference. But Hick quickly realizes the boy couldn’t have committed the crime. With the aid of a New York attorney trying to make a name for herself and a shy new deputy who knows the boy’s family, Hick uncovers a conspiracy that goes to the heart of local corruption, nepotism, and racism. But while Hick is working to free an innocent child in Broken Creek, his beloved Maggie, pregnant with their third child, faces challenges of her own back home. This time, will Hick’s dedication to justice extract too high a price?

The first book in this series, Beneath Still Waters, was in my top ten for 2016.  So when I saw this one, I was eager to read it.  Somehow, I missed the second book, but I will remedy that one soon! Between the Lies did very well as a stand alone.  I was able to catch up with the characters and fell right into the story.  

Hick is one of my favorite cop characters.  In this book, he has really grown into his leadership role and is determined to do the right hing.  I was rooting for him to save the day for young Thaddeus.  The story may be hard for some to read since it is a reminder of racial attitudes in country, especially the south,  in the fifties.  Attitudes, some would argue, are still as strong today.  

I enjoyed the book.  However, I was not prepared for the ending.  I'm not a fan of endings like that  because it turned a hopeful book into something incredibly sad. I don't like being blindsided. I'm not quite sure what the reasoning was behind it and I'm still not sure how it will affect my wanting to continue on with the series.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About Cynthia A. Graham

Cynthia A. Graham was born in St. Louis, Missouri. As a child she spent every weekend and vacation in the cotton belt of Missouri where she grew to love the mystery and beauty of the stark, Delta Plain. Cynthia graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Missouri – St. Louis with a B.A. in English. She has won several awards for her short stories and has been published in a number of anthologies. Between the Lies follows the first two books in her historical mystery series featuring Sheriff Hick Blackburn, Beneath Still Water and Behind Every Door, which both won IPPY and MIPA awards.

Connect with Cynthia

Website | Twitter

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Cynthia A. Graham’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Monday, August 6th: Thoughts on This ‘n That

Monday, August 13th: Kahakai Kitchen

Wednesday, August 15th: Broken Teepee

Friday, August 17th: Write Read Life

Monday, August 20th: Prose and Palate and @prose_and_palate

Wednesday, August 22nd: Patricia’s Wisdom

Thursday, August 23rd: SJ2B House of Books

Friday, August 24th: From the TBR Pile

Beneath Still Waters by Cynthia A. Graham

Author:  Cynthia A. Graham 
Publisher: Blank Slate Press
Date of publication: March 31, 2015

The swamps and bayous around Cherokee Crossing, Arkansas have always been dark and mysterious, but on this summer day two boys stumble across the remains of a baby girl, headless and badly decomposed. Hick Blackburn, a reluctant sheriff with a troubled past is called to the scene. With nothing to go on except the baby’s race and sex, the task of discovering who she is and how she died challenges all of Hick’s investigative skills. But Hick faces a deeper challenge. The vision of the infant has left him shattered, a reminder of a war crime he has tried to lock away, a crime that has begun to eat away at the edges of his life, destroying him one relationship at a time.

With the aid of his deputies, Hick will begin to piece together his investigation, an investigation that will lead him to question everything. As he is forced to examine the town he grew up in, he will come to terms with the notion that within each of us lays the propensity for both good and evil. His investigation will turn up lies and ignorance, scandal and deceit, and the lengths a mother will go in order to hide her shame.

Beneath Still Waters is one of those debut novels that kind of sneaks up on you and ends up sticking with you long after you have finished the book.  I thought this book was beautifully written and ended up really liking it.  The story begins with a horrendous find, someone has killed a baby and left it in the swamp. Its's up to Hick, the youngest sherrif in the history of the town to find out what happened and find justice for baby Doe.  

What I liked about the book was how the raw emotion of the situation came across to me, the reader.  The entire situation was so heartbreaking, yet I couldn't stop reading through to the resolution. Hick was a great character.  He is so broken, yet determined to do his job.  Taking place in the aftermath of World War II, Hick and his deputies must rely on themselves to solve the mystery.  It was refreshing to read a mystery with out all of the CSI advancements that we have now.  

What  loved even more about this book is the way the author handled to reality of PTSD among the WWII soldiers who came back from the war.  I realized after reading this that I haven't really thought about what those soldiers went through and what they had to deal with when they came back.  It was just as bad as what our soldiers come back with today.  

I highly recommend this book.  I know it is one that will stick with me for a long time.  I would love to read more about these characters in this small town in the future.  Bravo for a great debut!

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About Cynthia A. Graham

Cynthia A. Graham has a B.A. in English from the Pierre Laclede Honors College at the University of Missouri in St. Louis. She was the winner of several writing awards during her academic career and her short stories have appeared in both university and national literary publications. Cynthia is a member of the Historical Novel Society, the St. Louis Writer’s Guild, the Missouri Writer’s Guild, and Sisters In Crime. Beneath Still Waters is her first novel.

Cynthia A. Graham’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Thursday, February 11th: Buried Under Books

Wednesday, February 17th: Bewitched Bookworms

Thursday, February 25th: Bibliotica

Monday, February 29th: Stranded in Chaos

Wednesday, March 2nd: Life is Story

Friday, March 4th: From the TBR Pile

Monday, March 7th: Kahakai Kitchen

Tuesday, March 8th: Kritter’s Ramblings

Wednesday, March 9th: Patricia’s Wisdom

Thursday, March 10th: FictionZeal