Murder at the Courthouse

Back Cover

Michael Keane’s stressful days as a Columbus police officer are done.  He’s ready to relax into his new position as deputy sheriff in his hometown.  Nothing ever happens in Hidden Springs, Kentucky—and that’s just fine with Michael.

Nothing, that is, until a dead body is discovered on the courthouse steps.  As Michael works to solve the case, it seems that every nosy resident in town has a theory.  When the sheriff insists Michael check out one of those harebrained theories, his surprising discover sends him on a bewildering search for a mysterious killer that has him questioning everything he has ever believed about life in Hidden Springs.

Bringing with her a knack for creating settings you want to visit and an uncanny ability to bring characters to life, A. H. Gabhart pens a whodunit that will keep you guessing. 

Review 

I’m a fan of A. H. Gabhart (a.k.a. Ann H. Gabhart), having read most of her “Rosey Corner” and “The Heart of Hollyhill” series, and one of her stand-alones, Words Spoken True.  She is a beautiful writer who creates deep characters, interesting and unique stories, and wonderful “small towns”. 

Murder at the Courthouse has the guaranteed cast of memorable characters, a quaint small town (where you can tell the time of day depending on when the town’s resident “busybody” is on her daily tour through town), but with an added element of a dastardly and brazen murder in broad daylight.  As is wont in small towns whereby a small thing like the barber going on vacation is known by everyone, anything larger than that creates an impact.  And suffice to say, a murder rocks Hidden Springs’ residents to the core. 

While their own safety is chief among their concerns, the townspeople also want to know who did it so justice can be served.  And as the conspiracy theories grow faster than the weeds in their backyard vegetable gardens, they are every bit as gnarly.  Enter Michael Keane, who must wade through the “helpful” suggestions to get to the bottom of the matter.  To make things even more complicated, there is a reporter on his tail, an arrogant police officer spearheading the investigation, a teenage boy that is constantly chasing after trouble, and two very different women in his life that he is equally drawn to.  But solve this case he must – and will – even if the answer isn’t what he wants it to be.

With more twists and turns than a back-country road, Murder at the Courthouse is a mystery that keeps you guessing until the culprit is revealed – and holds the reader captive throughout the whole process. 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.