Killing the Story

An accidental death that was no accident…

For the record, Estelle Crane, the gutsy editor of The Observer newspaper, died after a hard fall on ice. But years later, her son discovers a cryptic note hinting her death might not have been an accident after all.

Was Estelle pursuing a big story that put her life in danger?

That’s what Isabel Long — along with her 93-year-old mother, Maria, her ‘Watson’ — agrees to investigate in Dillard, a town whose best days are in the past.

A former journalist, Isabel follows leads and interviews sources, new and familiar. She quickly finds a formidable threat in Police Chief James Hawthorne, who makes it clear Isabel is not welcome in his town — and who warns her against poking her nose into Estelle’s death.

Of course, that’s after Isabel has discovered the chief’s questionable policing and a troubled history with Estelle that goes way back.

Killing the story means dropping it because there aren’t enough facts to back it up. But Isabel won’t make that mistake. She’ll see this one through to the very end.

Can she uncover the plot that led to Estelle’s murder?

Killing the Story is the fourth in the popular Isabel Long Mystery Series. 

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08BDL9KKR

US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BDL9KKR

Author Bio – Joan Livingston is the author of novels for adult and young readers. Killing the Story, published by Darkstroke Books, is the fourth in her Isabel Long Mystery Series, featuring a longtime journalist who becomes an amateur P.I. solving cold cases in rural New England.

She draws upon her own experience as a longtime journalist in Massachusetts and New Mexico to create Isabel Long, a sassy, savvy widow who uses the skills she acquired in the business to solve what appears to be impossible cases. She also relies on her deep knowledge of rural Western Massachusetts, where she lives, to create realistic characters and settings — from country bars (where Isabel works part-time) to a general store’s backroom where gossipy old men meet.

She credits her mother, Algerina — the inspiration for Maria, Isabel Long’s ‘Watson’ — for instilling in her a love of reading and the power of the written word.

Social Media Links –

Website: www.joanlivingston.net. 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/JoanLivingstonAuthor/

Twitter: @joanlivingston 

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/JoanLivingston_Author

Goodreads: www.Goodreads.com/Joan_Livingston

MY REVIEW:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5

A Dead Editor

A Crooked Cop

What’s the Connection?

Isabel finds herself in danger again, but she will not stop searching or following leads until she is satisfied that she has done all she can for Emerson’s quest to find out the real story behind his mother’s death. Isabel will experience all kinds of characters to get to the bottom of the case, and her mother will be right there with her, maybe not always physically, but she is always asking Isabel for updates.

Killing The Story is fast paced and as all of Ms. Livingston’s books that I’ve read, full of great characters and a lot of danger and crazy situations. Isabel is always up for the adventures that she partakes in to find out the truth behind the cases she takes. She’s even up for the danger that always seems to find her. However, along with the danger comes the friendships, respect and support from the neighbors and community. This story was full of suspense, danger, and action. This case was a close to Isabel because Estelle Crane, Emerson’s mother, was a co-owner and operator of The Observer, and she was as tenacious, determined, and a reporter that didn’t have a problem reporting all of the news. Isabel is finding a kindred spirit with Estelle the more she delves into her death.

I love this story and the characters are always so interesting and entertaining. I love Isabel’s relationships that she makes and has with the towns folk as well as those that she ends up questioning. Ms. Livingston’s stories take place in Western Massachusetts and the description of the characters in the small townships around where Isabel lives as well as Conwell remind me of the small towns and countryside in Vermont. I love the Isabel Long stories. These stories always start off with suspense and adventures and this continues throughout the entire book. I give this story a 5-star review and look forward to more Isabel Long stories in the future.