The
Independent
First
Time Novel,
'Silver
Lies,'
Is a Good
Read
by
Janet Armantrout
Everyone
with the
exception
of salon
owner Inez
Stannert
views a
death in
the muddy
streets
of Leadville,
Colorado
as an accident.
She fears
foul play.
Thus begins
a new novel, “Silver
Lies,” written
by Ann Parker
of Livermore.
The
victim,
Joe Rose,
is found
outside
of Stannert’s
salon, apparently
trampled
to death.
The streets
are quagmires
of snow
and mud. “Joe’s
last scream
was muffled
by mud and
honky-tonk
music. And
the piano
played on,” is
just an
example
of the descriptive
phrasing
written
by Parker.
“Silver
Lies” is
a good
read for
both mystery
and history
lovers.
The story
is set
in 1879
Leadville
at the
height
of the
mining
boom.
Readers
learn
of the
hardships
faced
by the
men who
are trying
to make
a fortune,
with few
succeeding.
Gambling,
drinking
and brothels
are part
of the
boomtown
scene
where
people
win and
lose in
the high
stakes
game of
life.
Parker
uses this
setting
to introduce
an interesting
cast of
characters
tied together
in a plot
of lies
that are
uncovered
by Inez
in her search
for the
reason for
the murder.
Inez is
a well-educated,
gun-toting
woman from
the east
who fell
in with
the wrong
kind of
man. She
is part-owner
of the Silver
Queen salon.
Her husband
has left
her. Her
partner
in the salon,
Abe Jackson,
is a free
Blackman.
The
status of
both women
and blacks
are subplots
within this
fast-paced
murder mystery.
Inez and
Abe become
the focus
of the local
sheriff’s
attention
as potential
suspects.
Then
there is
the mysterious
Reverend
Sands who
adds romance
to the story.
Abe says
of him, “He
is no reverend.”
The
victim is
an assayer
of precious
metals.
It becomes
apparent
that he
has become
involved
in some
shady deals
that Inez
believes
may have
led to his
death.
Murder
isn’t
the only
crime. It
is the catalyst
that leads
to the discovery
of the lies
and secrets
that the
Inez uncovers.
Her search
leads her
to a brothel
in Denver
and back
to Leadville.
Parker
provides
the clues
to whodunit
in an orderly
manner.
She adds
some misdirection
to keep
readers
guessing.
And it is
a book that
keeps the
reader’s
attention
until the
end.
• • •
Parker
is a Livermore
resident.
She works
at the Lawrence
Livermore
National
Laboratory
where she
is a writer/editor
in the Innovative
Business
and Information
Services
Department.
She earned
degrees
in Physics
and English
literature.
Her
ancestors
include
a Leadville
blacksmith,
a Colorado
School of
Mines professor,
and a gandy
dancer.
“Silver
Lies” won
the mystery
category
in the
Colorado
Gold fiction
writers’ contest.
It
was then
picked up
by mystery
publisher
Poisoned
Pen Press.
It has been
nominated
for the
Bruce Alexander
Historical
Mystery
award. The
award will
be presented
at the Left
Coast Crime
mystery
conference
in Monterey
on Saturday,
February
21. The
other candidates
are well-established
historical
mystery
authors
with a number
of books
under their
belts. Only
three books
in all were
nominated
for this
award: Rhys
Bowen — For
the Love
of Mike,
Mary Reed
and Eric
Mayer — Four
for a Boy,
and Ann
Parker — Silver
Lies.
It is available
in hardcover,
price $24.95.
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