Reviews
“In her first novel, Judy Penz Sheluk has written a well-crafted mystery in the classic tradition. A small town with a dark past, its inhabitants full of secrets, a ruthless developer, and an intrepid reporter with secrets of her own come together to create a can’t-put-down-read. I look forward to the further adventures of Emily Garland and Lount’s Landing.” — Vicki Delany, bestselling author of the Constable Molly Smith series.
“Compelling characters with hidden connections and a good, old-fashioned amateur sleuth getting in over her head without the distraction of cats, spirits, or recipes makes Judy Penz Sheluk’s Glass Dolphin series one to read. Upon turning the last page of The Hanged Man’s Noose, I wanted to hop in the car and drive straight away to Lount’s Landing, sit down in the tavern that lent its name to the title, and start quizzing the characters on what was going to happen in the sequel.” — James M. Jackson, author, Seamus McCree series
“In her debut thriller, Judy Penz Sheluk introduces us to Emily Garland, a feisty reporter sent to a small town to uncover the fraudulent schemes of a big city developer. But everyone, including Emily’s boss, has a secret agenda. And some of those secrets are deadly…” — Janet Bolin, National bestselling author of the Threadville Mysteries
“A thoroughly engaging debut mystery … well-plotted, well-paced and just plain well done!” — Elizabeth J. Duncan, award-winning author of the Penny Brannigan mystery series and Shakespeare in the Catskills mysteries
“Emily Garland is sent to a small Canadian town about to be invaded by a mega-store to work on a magazine. She has reason to dislike the developer—and apparently, so do many others in town. As the body count rises, Emily needs to figure out who killed who, and why. Replete with twists and turns, the story keeps the reader guessing right up to the end. Highly recommended!” — J.E. Seymour, author, Kevin Markinson series
“Dedicated journalist Emily Garland arrives in Lount’s Landing to find that long-buried secrets are threatening her new friends–and her own life. The story won’t let you go until you’ve raced through the pages and unraveled all the mysteries.” — Kaye George, author, the Fat Cat and Cressa Carraway Musical Mystery series
“The start of a new series and with a digital price that can’t be beat. What more could you ask for?” — BOLOBooks.com
“Things aren’t always what they seem”—a necessary proviso for any great mystery, and Judy Penz Sheluk has done a masterful job holding true to this idiom in The Hangman’s Noose.” {Read the full review her— Kathleen Kaska, author, the Sydney Lockhart mysteries
“A tweet about an interview with editor Lourdes Venard led me to freelance reporter and author Judy Penz Sheluk’s blog site and the discovery of her debut mystery novel, THE HANGED MAN’S NOOSE. These opening lines of the book’s synopsis hooked me:
Journalist Emily Garland lands a plum assignment as the editor of a niche magazine based in Lount’s Landing, a small town named after a colorful 19th-century Canadian traitor.” {Read the full review here}.— Gail M. Baugniet, author, Pepper Bibeau mysteries.
“Judy Penz Sheluk does a great job of keeping you guessing as to who is the murderer. I’m not going to give you any spoilers, except to say that even I was surprised to learn the actual circumstances. The solution of the murders will both please you and wanting more. Fortunately, Judy Penz Sheluk will deliver more in the next two books contained in this delightful mystery series.“ (Read the full review here) — Mathiya Adams, The Hot Dog Detective
Newspaper Reviews
The Toronto Star, October 31, 2015
WHODUNIT: Jack Batten
“In her first book, Toronto writer Judy Penz Sheluk probably scores a record for the most characters with skeletons in the closet. Set in a small Ontario town, the story is all about an urban interloper’s plans to build a big box store in town, thereby threatening its existing economy. In the resulting turmoil, strange deaths take place, each bringing several suspects who carry the baggage of secret pasts. Even the sleuth figure, an investigative reporter, guards a personal mystery in a book whose author hits large in the business of concocting secrets.” {Read it online here}
Magazine Reviews Canadian Antiques & Vintage: November-December 2015