The Fall of Hermitage House

 
by Velda Brotherton

In their most baffling tale of suspense and intrigue to date, Deputy Sheriff Dallas Starr and reporter Jessie West once again team up to bring justice to Grace County.

The new owners of Hermitage House are kidnapped seemingly without purpose. Could their abductions be connected to the reappearance of escaped villains Robert Kimble and Taylor Bainbridge of the Rising Moon cult? What about the distraught man found hiding in the woods with two girls he claims are his daughters?

As the romantic relationship between Jessie and Dal heats up further—finding even more unusual places to bloom—Dal and his fellow deputies search in one direction to unravel the mystery, while Jessie and her best friend Tink go in the other direction, putting themselves in peril during their own search for clues.

Throw in an escaped lion, stolen police cars, and the appearance of a mysterious hermit, and this puzzling case seems to have endless twists and turns. Will this be the one that finally takes Jessie too far in the pursuit of her next story? After losing his wife, can Dal’s heart survive a relationship with a woman who puts herself at risk?

Published:
Publisher: Radiance
Genres:
Mystery, Romance
Tags:
romantic mystery books

About the Author

Velda Brotherton

Velda Brotherton enjoyed a long and accomplished career in historical writing, both fiction and nonfiction. Her love of the West and its stories drove the publication of more than twenty-five books across three decades.

Before turning to fiction, she worked as a journalist in Northwest Arkansas, a role that shaped her sharp eye for detail and deep respect for real places and real people. In 1988, she co-founded the Northwest Arkansas Writers Workshop with her friend and writing partner, the legendary Dusty Richards. The group became a cornerstone for regional writers, and Velda spent decades mentoring, teaching, and developing new talent.

Her own writing career crossed genres and publishers. She built early success as a New York–published romance author, then expanded into romantic suspense, upmarket fiction, hard-edged Westerns, and regional nonfiction that reflected her reporter’s instincts. No matter the category, her work carried the same trademarks: grit, heart, and a devotion to the history of the American West.

Velda passed away in 2023, leaving behind a diverse body of work, a loyal readership, and generations of writers whose careers she shaped. Her influence endures in the stories she told and the voices she helped bring into the world.

Other Books By Velda Brotherton

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