This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Saifunnissa Hassam for Readers' Favorite
James R. Callan's A Plot for Murder, A Father Frank Mystery: Murder at the Writers Conference is a mystery with an intriguing storyline. Father Frank DeLuca is the pastor of Prince of Peace Church in Pine Tree, Texas, and has successfully investigated crime cases. Rod Granet, a novelist, is the main speaker at the Piney Woods Writers Conference, at the Lakota Retreat Center. He is the winner of the prestigious Austin Benedict Award for Best Plot of the Year for his novel A Garden Variety Murder. His novel is on the USA Today bestselling list. Maggie DeLuca, a mystery writer from Dallas, is Father Frank's sister. When Maggie reads Granet's bestseller, she is convinced he has stolen an unpublished story she wrote a few years before, which she had sent to him for a review. She confronts him at the conference, but he rejects her accusation. Maggie threatens that he will pay for it. Granet is found murdered in his cabin at the retreat, and Maggie is arrested as the only suspect. When Texas Ranger Lieutenant Dick Richards is assigned to the case, he and Father Frank end up working together.
I particularly enjoyed reading A Plot for Murder because of the way Father Frank takes on an extremely challenging situation. How could he prove that his sister Maggie did not murder Rod Granet? I liked the way the story developed, making Father Frank's role in the case increasingly significant. I thought Maggie DeLuca's character was well developed as someone feisty, courageous, and unafraid to speak frankly. Those characteristics made for building tension as she landed in deep trouble as the only suspect in the murder. I enjoyed the situations, settings, and dialogue which demonstrated the calming effect Father Frank had on people through his patience, encouragement, and support. I particularly liked the setting in which the Texas Ranger Dick Richards met with Father Frank on an outside bench at the church. I appreciated how the story revealed Ranger Richards' character, and his commitment to seek out all the information and follow up on clues, before bringing an accused person to trial. The novel's ending and how the case was resolved were most satisfying. This was a very thought-provoking novel, which raised questions about justice and compassion.
