The Cumberland Killers: A Kentucky Mystery (Kentucky Mysteries Book 2) Book Review

The Cumberland Killers: A Kentucky Mystery (Kentucky Mysteries Book 2) Book Review   

Title: The Cumberland Killers: A Kentucky Mystery (Kentucky Mysteries Book 2)
Author: James Aura
Publisher: Independent
Publisher Website Address: https://www.facebook.com/thecumberlandkillers/
ISBN-13: 978-1720173588
ASIN: B07H6Q2ZPM
Page Count: 258 pages

Reviewed by Carolyn Wilhelm

Kentucky must be a lovely place for a murder mystery! With the mountain tops not being widely accessible and long country roads, nefarious activity can be conducted. Lush Kentucky Blue-grass meadows and idyllic scenes do not appear to hide any secrets. However, a young newspaperman, Russell, begins quite an adventure sleuthing after his friend is murdered. We wonder why during most of the story. 

Winding country roads are less traveled, so those determined to conduct illegal business might be willing to use them. Fewer people, fewer watching eyes. Russell and his friend Tom bravely and knowingly find work with criminals felling trees. The work is difficult hard labor. They learn a few clues to help them try to solve the mystery. They also each have a love interest which keeps the story moving along. 

Honest and hard-working people live in the area, although many are now laid off. Russell shares his knowledge of what is going on high on the mountain tops with concerned neighbors, who happen to serve fine Sunday dinners. 

Roads that appear to go nowhere as mining changed from shafts beneath the earth to strip mining. Did you know fewer workers are required for strip mining? Such practices cause unemployment and harm the environment, adding to difficult economic times. At first, companies could just leave the land behind until laws were written for them to restore the areas. In this story, songbirds in some areas are not singing and water wells have become polluted. Hmmm, are we getting closer to finding the truth?

Mountain tops cannot always be seen from the ground, so could it be people were really blowing them up for an even easier mining method? The coal practically fell in the trucks with this method. and few people were aware. One thing leads to another. Clues begin to fall in place. A neighbor boy's drawing causes Russell to look for extra space in his rooming house, causing their capture and almost demise. 

The author kindly shared these images to provide visuals of the area. They may also be found on the book's Facebook page. The author may also be found on Twitter. 

About James Aura

James Aura writes historical, environmental and climate fiction.
He grew up in farming country north of Clifton Hill, Missouri; a town with a barbershop and a population of 212. Later, after college and the army, he covered public servants and Pharisees, civil rights marchers, and the Klan, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, corporate bigwigs, Amish house-movers, snake handlers and strip-miners from the Midwest to the Atlantic Coast. In other words, he was in the local news business. He hopes you enjoy the ride. James Aura lives in the woods near Raleigh, NC with his wife and a very opinionated cat.

Reviewer Carolyn Wilhelm

Wise Owl Factory LLC

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