Tamar Anolic delivers a whimsical detective tale in her latest novel, The Abnormal Gumshoe.
It’s another Sunday in Fayetteville, Arkansas and Chloe and her family, along with the rest of the congregation, are enjoying Pastor Ogden’s homilies. Chloe thinks about how much she used to love to sing and wishes she were in the choir. Who has time for that? She is the oldest of fifteen children. Some of her younger siblings have already gone through the courting process and even married their chosen spouses. Not Chloe. She will be thirty this year and she is still living with her parents. They need her and she is a significant help with the younger siblings still at home. Distracted, she looks around the congregation just in time to see Barnabas Anderson staring at her. Their eyes lock and she immediately looks away. Little did she know that would be the least of her concerns (or encounters) with Barnabas.
Imagine Chloe’s horror in the not-too-distant future when her parents decide it is time for her to have a suitor. She learns that the person they have chosen for her to court is none other than Barnabas Anderson. She immediately thinks of that day in church and his “…dark hair that sits like a mop on top of his head…” Conflicted with this latest turn of events, Chloe rationalizes that the truth is she isn’t getting any younger and if she ever plans to have children, perhaps Barnabas is the best option to make this happen. However, as she learns more about Barnabas, she realizes there are more than a few skeletons in his closet and past.
As Chloe gets to know Barnabas, she finds more questions than answers as she tries to unravel his checkered past. As readers join Chloe on her journey for answers, the mystery at the heart of this novel will undoubtedly interest young readers who have just begun reading chapter books. The writing is simple and easy to understand, making it perfect for a young adult audience.
Quill says: The Abnormal Gumshoe would be a great read for a young reader who is just beginning to enjoy chapter books.
For more information about The Abnormal Gumshoe, please visit the author's website at: tamaranolic.com/
