Hidden Scars

With its strong sense of place, depiction of racial tension that still lingers in the new South, and appealing sleuths, de Castrique's well-plotted mystery is a winner. --Library Journal Known for his effortless storytelling, de Castrique once again delivers a compelling tale blending fact and fiction, this one involving racial tension, the aftermath of war, and the authentication of manuscripts. (starred review)--Library Journal for The Sandburg Connection, Sam Blackman Mystery #3 .. .superior sixth mystery...De Castrique combines an examination of the South's troubled racial history with a smart probe of current political-financial shenanigans. --Publishers Weekly De Castrique's sixth delivers a vivid gallery of suspects, lively dialogue, and an attractive pair of sleuths. --Kirkus Reviews A wealth of historical detail, an exciting treasure hunt and credible characters distinguish this fresh, adventurous read. (starred review)--Publishers Weekly for Blackman's Coffin, Sam Blackman Mystery #1 .. .intriguing historical mystery... --Don Crinklaw Booklist This fascinating mystery, merging past and present, brings some little-known history to light and shows that laws change much faster than attitudes, as Sam and Nakayla, an interracial couple themselves, discover. --Barbara Bibel Booklist for Murder in Passing, Sam Blackman Mystery #4 Hidden Scars is packed with engaging and colorful characters, including mysterious men in suits, modern FBI agents and cops, a tweed-jacketed, elbow-patched hack author, and a shotgun-toting old recluse whose pet raccoon sports a rhinestone collar. The complicated plot twists from past to present and back again, keep the reader intrigued. Building slowly at first, the novel moves toward an action-packed conclusion that leaves no loose ends. Hidden Scars creates a satisfying and enjoyable counterpoint between the secrets of the past and the crimes of the present. --Jean Gazis Mystery Scene Magazine