Reviews
“Private Investigator Calamity (Callie) Barnstable is a character that you know you’d love to meet in real life. Smart, endearingly human, she tackles her latest complex case with energy and determination. I look forward to more outings.”—Maureen Jennings, author of the Murdoch Mysteries
“Penz Sheluk weaves an absorbing tale centered around P.I. Calamity Barnstable’s investigation into three missing women’s cold cases. Calamity proves to be a complex and feisty protagonist with a wicked sense of humor and a dogged need to uncover the truth. I was quickly drawn into the missing persons’ cases files, working alongside Calamity and her new partner Denim as they plot their path forward, uncover clues, and work to put the puzzle pieces together. A highly enjoyable and engaging read with a memorable cast of characters — fans of the Marketville mysteries are in for a treat!”—Brenda Chapman, author of the Stonechild and Rouleau police procedurals and the Hunter and Tate mysteries
“Some cold cases grab at the heart strings, and three women missing for decades is one. A daughter just looking for answers about her mother’s disappearance sets Callie Barnstable on a journey uncovering curious connections, personal insights, and an engaging mystery with more than just closure. Judy Penz Sheluk’s rich characters, well-developed search, and continued revelations in her own family make for a ‘can’t put down’ experience.” —Kathleen Costa, Kings River Life Magazine – Click here to read the full review
“Calamity’s back! And while she investigates the cold-case disappearance of three seemingly-unrelated young women, she grapples with ghosts from her own–and her mother’s–past. A compelling page-turner with a hint of romance, a keen tech-savvy sidekick, and clever clues threaded through an old missing-persons story that resonates loudly with today’s news headlines.”—Winona Kent, author of the Jason Davey mysterie
“With 3 women missing, a new assistant to train, and a break up to deal with, Callie Barnstable has a lot on her plate! When her current case collides with past investigations, and no one is willing to tell the full story, Callie must dive deeper into Marketville’s secrets to find the truth of what happened to these women – including a mother who vanished one day, much like her own.All of your favourite characters are back (at least via email), and some fresh faces keep Callie on her toes in this cleverly plotted, intricately woven story will have you turning pages right to the end.”— Allison Dore, host of The Breakdown, Sirius XM
“I loved that this book takes place in Ontario, the province where I live. I could readily identify with the various settings along the way. I also loved that the main character is an intelligent, strong woman and that there is a tease of romantic involvement with the Police Detective. The authors writing style flows, and the book is easy to read. She has created a great story with a well-worked-out plot. If you enjoy Sue Taylor Grafton’s books, you will love- Before there were Skeletons.”—The Retired Book Lady
“Calamity Barnstable, the Ontario private eye specializing in missing persons, got her given name from the Wild West figure, but her personality from the version played in the Doris Day movies: a little smart alecky, but reasoned and charming. She operates out of Marketville, a town an hour north of Toronto. In this book, the fourth in the series, our Callie has three missing women on her hands, all slim and between the ages of 18 and 20 when they vanished in the winter of 1995. Are they kidnapping victims? Are the crimes connected? For that matter, are the three, perhaps, even still living? Callie’s sleuthing is clever, determined and the stuff of solid noir.”—Jack Batten, The Toronto Star