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Reviewed by Ronél Steyn for Readers' Favorite
Before There Were Skeletons by Judy Penz Sheluk is a Marketville Mystery. Calamity Barnstable is the owner of Past and Present Investigations, specializing in cold cases in Canada. When Callie gets a new client whose mother disappeared on 14 February 1995, she can’t help but find similarities with her own mother’s disappearance in 1986, also on 14 February. Armed with her tenacious determination to find the truth where others had previously failed, plus a new staff member Denim to help with the groundwork, Callie sets out to find the truth. When she is given her mother’s old school yearbooks, Callie realizes that she hasn’t made peace with her unsolved family mystery and skeletons from the past.
Before There Were Skeletons by Judy Penz Sheluk is an amazing sleuth mystery. So much attention to detail has been given that it makes this story a true winner. I loved the entire layout of the chapters. The reading pace and rhythm are phenomenal, which makes this author a true talent. Your attention will be captured from the first sentence. Written in the first-person narrative, the personal perspective just gives it an edge. All the other characters have their purpose in this story, and everyone is pulling their weight. The COVID-19 restrictions, the characters, as well as the scenarios are relatable. The book is suitable for all readers, from young-adult to the more mature. I enjoyed the little details of what the main character ate, and how she dressed. This book is the perfect balance of mystery and emotion.
