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Connie Chappell is a bestselling author of both literary fiction and the Wrenn Grayson Mystery series. The series titles are Deadly Homecoming at Rosemont, Designs on Ivy’s Locket, and most recently released, Lily White Lie. Designs on Ivy's Locket is the Silver Medalist in the Readers' Favorite 2018 International Book Awards Contest for Fiction-Mystery-General.
Wrenn Grayson is a historian-for-hire in her hometown of Havens, Ohio. Best Thrillers claims Wrenn’s one-of-a-kind investigative process will have readers flipping pages in her fast-paced mysteries. Chappell take readers into the world of small-town Ohio with its unique combination of local charm and unexpected intrigue. Blending history and modern-day sleuthing, these novels provide a delightfully witty cast of new and returning characters.
Chappell and her widely read novel, Wild Raspberries, received the 2016 Maxy Award for Best Literary Fiction and the Readers' Favorite Book Award for Women's Fiction. Proper Goodbye, the long-awaited companion book to Wild Raspberries, was released and immediately touted as the novel that “needs to be on all the lists of bests.” These deeply emotional family dramas tell stories of love, loss, and second chances. They have touched the hearts of readers all over the country.
Whether literary or mystery, Chappell’s characters are bound to captivate readers till the very end.
Her novels are published by 4am Books and are standalone books that may be read in any order.
Make contact with the author through her website, www.conniechappell.com.
Reviewed by Lucinda E Clarke for Readers' Favorite
Lily White Lie by Connie Chappell is a thriller set in Ohio in the United States. The main character, Wrenn Grayson, works part time for the mayor of Havens and also contributes historical pieces for the local paper. She lives on the edge of town with her long-time partner Gideon and, when the story opens, we learn that he is away for a week on a hunting trip, out of cell phone range. Thanksgiving is approaching, a difficult time of year for Gideon as it was then that his father left, on the run from the FBI, and no one knows where he is. Enter Bret Kilmore, who tells Wrenn he is an old friend of Gideon’s and, against her will, moves into the cottage. There is political intrigue by an unsavory character attempting to unseat the mayor, Wrenn is asked to investigate the history of a pocket watch found in the church tower, and then Wrenn receives bunches of white lilies with threatening messages.
There are many characters in Lily White Lie who could be responsible for the threats on Wrenn's life. The plot is quite complex, but her character leaps off the page. I particularly enjoyed the banter between her and Bret Kilmore, who foists himself on her with the excuse that he must wait for her boyfriend’s return from a hunting trip in a week’s time. There are several red herrings, many people to distrust, and a Christmas carnival to organize. The story also includes many interesting facts about heraldry and the historical construction of churches. I found the accounts of how Wrenn researched the past particularly interesting. A cozy mystery that is easy to read and I enjoyed it.
