Tam May – författare

Is the death of a schoolteacher suicide or something more sinister?Adele Gossling is adjusting well to small-town life after the hustle and bustle of San Francisco. Despite her progressive ideas about women and her unladylike business acumen, even Arrojo's most prominent citizens accept her, provided she sticks with the business of fountain pens and letter paper and stays out of crime investigation.But that's just what she can't do when Millie Gibb, the new teacher at the local girls' school, is found dead, and everybody in town assumes the schoolteacher committed suicide. After all, what enemies could she have?Adele and her clairvoyant friend Nin intend to find out. But can they prove Millie's death was foul play based on a cigar stub, a letter fragment, and a cigarette lighter before the case is closed for good?You'll love this turn-of-the-century whodunit where a sassy and smart New Woman gives the police a run for their money!What reviewers are saying:"e;The characters are true to life, and the early methods used in criminal detection are fun to read."e;"e;Characters are well written."e;"e;An excellent story with great characters!"e;~~~Don't forget to check out the other books in the Adele Gossling Mysteries!

Can Adele Gossling prove a son didn't kill his mother?Teddy Roosevelt is running for president and even Arrojo can't deny progressive reforms are here to stay. Rebecca Gold, one of the era's New Women, chooses just this moment in time to set up her law practice in Arrojo and lands the affluent Thea Marsh as her first client.When Thea dies unexpectedly, the police begin their investigation by turning to her own family. The beloved and favored eldest son, Theo, is accused of the crime. Could this man really be guilty of matricide?Rebeca doesn't think so. She turns to her new friend in town, businesswoman and fellow suffragist Adele Gossling, to help prove it. Adele has already helped the local police solve a few crimes, much to the shock of the town's conservative citizens. Despite promises never to involve herself in crime detection again, how can she refuse a friend in need?Will Adele make a case against Theo's guilt out of a stained teacup, a fountain pen nib, ashes that should have been in the fireplace, and daisies that should have been fresh? Or will Theo go to the gallows and the real murderer escape justice?Find out in this third installment of the Adele Gossling Mysteries, the compelling early 20th century series spearheaded by Adele Gossling and her spiritual sidekick, Nin Branch, as they set out to prove women can be crime busters too!What reviewers are saying:"e;Entertaining page-turner!"e;"e;Intrigue that will draw you in and make you want more."e;"e;The characters are becoming more endearing and interesting with each book."e;~~~Don't forget to check out the other books in the Adele Gossling Mysteries!

Will a thief ruin Labor Day for the whole town of Arrojo?For Adele Gossling, Labor Day is about giving voice to progressive reforms such as the eight-hour work day and minimum wage for women. But for business owners in Arrojo, Labor Day is about making money. City folks flock to the country seeking holiday deals they can't get in San Francisco or Sacramento.What they don't know is there's a thief in town. He's already gotten away with burglarizing business owners in neighboring cities, and the county police can't seem to get their hands on him.Who is stealing gold trinkets from the shops in Arrojo, California? Is it the dandified Mr. Lyman? The town's junk collector and pariah, Zephyr Brown? Or is it someone (or something) beyond their wildest imagination?Follow the adventures of epistolary expert and suffragist Adele Gossling and her visionary friend Nin Branch as they try to catch a thief and his unique accomplice.Pick up this fourth book of what reviewers have praised as a "e;great series"e; where "e;characters come alive"e;.What reviewers are saying:"e;A quick and entertaining read"e;"e;The plot is tight, the characters interesting, and the dialogue realistic."e;"e;Encourage you to read this book"e;~~~Don't forget to check out the other books in the Adele Gossling Mysteries!

Can Adele Gossling find out who killed the daring young man on the flying trapeze when the circus comes to town? In 1905, the Barry Circus comes to Arrojo. The whole town is buzzing with excitement at seeing Julius Rowe, the "e;daring young man on the flying trapeze"e;. To the audience, he's the handsome and dashing star of the circus. To his fellow performers, he's arrogant, demanding, and a little ruthless. But who cares, as long as the crowds can't get enough of him? Then on opening night, the unthinkable happens — Julius misses that third somersault and falls into the net, instantly killed. Under those circumstances, murder seems impossible. It must have been a terrible and unlucky accident, right? Only it wasn't. It was murder! There are no end of suspects. Maybe it was the husband of Julius' latest conquest, Maybe it was the lady herself, proving that a woman scorned can be a dangerous thing. Maybe it was one of the other performers, jealous of Julius' success. It's up to Adele Gossling and her friend Nin Branch to find out when the circus closes ranks against the police. Join one of the early 20th century's clever sleuths and her clairvoyant sidekick as they follow the trail of a lost scarf, a serrated knife, and misguided ambition. Read this installment of the series reviewers are calling "e;fun"e;, "e;well-paced"e;, and "e;entertaining"e;. What reviewers are saying:"e;Another winner in the Adele Gossling Mysteries!"e;"e;What an amazing story!"e;"e;Excellent characterization and lots of details of life in 1905"e;~~~Don't forget to check out the other books in the Adele Gossling Mysteries!

A lady's maid is getting too big for her britches. But does that justify murder? Everyone agreed: Arabella Parnell thought far too highly of herself. She worked her way up from scullery maid to lady's maid for one of Arrojo's finest families and personal friends of the mayor. She wrote letters to her former employer as if they were comrades. She flirted with some of the most prominent young men in the county. So the Arrojo police were hardly surprised when they find her dead among the shrubbery in a wealthy bachelor's conservatory. And yet, amateur sleuth and suffragist Adele Gossling can't help but wonder: Who was Arabella Parnell? Was she just a servant with arrogant manners and too much self-assurance? Or was she the victim of the pride and passions of powerful men, one of whom did her in? With only a hair comb, a broach, and a candlestick to go on, can Adele solve this case? Read how Adele and her psychic friend Nin unravel a shocking and twisted case inspired by a real-life early 20th-century unsolved crime! Enjoy the sixth book of this series featuring the sleuth with, as one reviewer puts it, "e;a wonderful mixture of sassiness and sensitivity."e;~~~Don't forget to check out the other books in the Adele Gossling Mysteries!

One woman's journey to self-discovery in the Gilded Age could destroy everything she's ever known."e;May's historical fiction picks apart the delicate facade of American gentility in upper-class families on the wild West Coast at the end of the nineteenth century."e; - Lisa Lickel, author and blogger, Living our Faith Out LoudVivian, the daughter: The last decade of the 19th century leads her down a dark path of uncovering family lies in the hopes of creating a brighter future for herself.Jake, the son: His search for a father figure brings him full circle to sin and redemption.Larissa, the matriarch: Her obsession with Nob Hill's rigid social codes hides the shameful secrets of her past.In this 4-book box set:Book 1: The Specter: Vivian Alderdice is not your typical Gilded Age debutante. She is struck with the tragic death of her grandmother in the midst of her glamorous life filled with parties and balls. To make matters worse, a woman shows up at the funeral claiming she knew Penelope Alderdice, Nob Hill socialite, as Grace Carlyle, an artist searching for adventure in a small coastal town named Waxwood. Is this intruder a crank or is she telling the truth? Vivian's determination to find out takes her into the life of the woman she thought she knew, uncovering family secrets hidden for over forty years.Book 2: False Fathers: At nineteen, Jake Alderdice has a huge burden on his shoulders. His mother expects him to take his place as the head of the family after his grandfather dies, but Jake hardly has the qualities of a patriarch. When the family goes to Waxwood for the summer, Jake befriends an older man whom he believes can show him the way. Will Jake discover the true meaning of Gilded Age masculinity, or will he redefine it?Book 3: Pathfinding Women: Vivian Alderdice is now twenty-six, unmarried, and has no prospective suitors. Her brother's tragic plight the year before left the family on shaky ground in Nob Hill society. Their social position depends on Vivian capturing the heart of a wealthy Canadian bachelor determined to become a member of their exclusive society. But to win him, she and her mother must spend the summer in Waxwood. When the skeletons of the past begin to emerge, Vivian finds herself torn between fulfilling her social obligations and embarking on a journey to uncover more family lies. Will Vivian's summer unravel truths that might destroy the Alderdices forever? Or will she unearth a more authentic version of herself as the new century approaches?Book 4: Dandelions: For Vivian Alderdice, the twentieth century begins with a new start. Now a working woman and progressive reformer, she's forsaken the elegance of Nob Hill for the more modest Waxwood. She's laid Penelope Alderdice's specter to rest at last. But Vivian's peaceful existence is thrown into turmoil when the man who ruined her brother's life appears like another specter she must exorcise. Will Vivian discover his journey to fulfillment in the dark forest of guilt and betrayal or her own?Come dive into this series that reveals the destiny of a family during one of America's most turbulent times!