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Sherilyn Decter
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Soiled Dove Murder: Prohibition-era prostitutes. Abductions turned into murder. One determined schoolteacher determined to stop a ruthless killer... (Moonshiner Mysteries) Paperback – January 3, 2023

by Sherilyn Decter (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 37 ratings
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Cozy crime meets women's historical fiction.

Red-light ladies mysteriously slain. A shunned group living on society’s fringe. Two frontier women digging up truth and justice.

Virginia City, Montana, 1920’s. Lucie Santoro will never turn her back on those she taught. So when a former student begs for her aid, the dedicated schoolteacher leaps into action to help the now successful bordello madam track down a missing Chinese prostitute. But the rescue mission tragically becomes a murder investigation after the young victim is found brutally killed.

Convinced the ruthless tong leader is the one responsible, Lucie and her loyal moonshiner friend, the feisty Delores Bailey, fight rampant bigotry as they race to gather evidence. But when another sing-sing girl is kidnapped and the blame again points to their cruel nemesis, Lucie must confront her fears to stop the rising body count… before she joins their numbers.

Can the determined spinster and her rebel ally defeat a deadly enemy hiding in plain sight?

Soiled Dove Murder is the thrilling third book in the Moonshiner historical mystery series. If you like gutsy heroines, well-researched Prohibition-era backdrops, and solving puzzles in reverse, then you’ll love Sherilyn Decter’s gritty adventure.

Buy Soiled Dove Murder to end an ugly scheme today!
Previous page
  1. Book 3 of 4
    Moonshiner Mysteries
  2. Print length
    439 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    January 3, 2023
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.99 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1777515149
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1777515140
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

History, mystery, adventure, and action align as a 1920s schoolteacher takes on the mobsters of Virginia City.

School is out for the summer. Schoolteacher Lucie Santoro and Delores Bailey, her incongruous moonshiner companion, are using the break to help one of Lucie's old pupils.

It's been a long time since Lucie has seen Ruth, and she has changed more than she can believe. The once-impoverished student is now running a bordello of prostitutes in Virginia City. When one of her so-called "soiled doves" goes missing in suspicious circumstances, Ruth fears the worst. Local law enforcement aren't inclined to care about the fate of a Chinese working girl, so Ruth turns to Lucie, the one person she knows will help.

As a teacher in the 1920s, life is a delicate balancing act for Lucie. Her morals must always be above reproach. Being seen with the owner of a bordello would be enough to shatter her reputation and destroy her career. And yet, when an old student needs her, she can't turn her back. Little does Lucie know that losing her career may be the least of her worries. On this holiday, she'll be in danger of losing her life.

The Moonshiner Mysteries is a series that keeps getting better. This third installment sees the protagonist of the first two books, Delores Bailey, in the supporting role as Lucie takes the lead. Expanding a previously secondary character proves to be a fantastic move on Decter's part.

Lucie always had immense potential in the previous books, and here she is living up to it.
The differences between Delores and Lucie are stark from the first novel. Lucie works within the confines of polite society while Delores operates outside of them. In the first books, Delores's character arc involved her letting people in. Here, Lucie's is about gaining independence.

The new protagonist and fresh setting amps Soiled Dove Murder up about tenfold. While I love spending time in Delores's head, she grew so much in the first two books that I couldn't see where she could go next. Clearly, I was very short-sighted because she continues to grow in this novel. Having Lucie in the limelight gives readers a chance to see a whole new side of Delores—the side that Lucie has always seen.

As always, the historical attention to detail is remarkable. From the very first bumpy, exhausting bus ride to the portrayal of Chinese immigration in 1920s USA, it's clear how well Decter understands the world she's writing. She doesn't shy away from the less savory aspects of the era.

In Soiled Dove Murder, Decter delves into the racial discrimination, sexism, and morality of the 1920s. What I love about these novels is that the protagonists aren't immune to the values of their time. They judge and misstep, but they are fully rounded empathetic characters and the more they experience, the wider their understanding becomes.

I don't know if you can really have a gripe with this book. It's clever, nuanced, entertaining, and fun all at once. I'll admit, though, I still did have an issue with it. Sheriff Sam Browne wasn't in it! Granted, the story couldn't have been told if he was there, but I stand by my opinion.

Soiled Dove Murder was the first book I read this year, and it's an excellent way to kick off 2023. Sitting down with it was like settling in with old friends. Comfortable, yes, but also engaging, exhilarating and delightful.

I'd strongly recommend this to anyone looking for a solid historical adventure. There are a couple threads of mystery that weave through the series, teasing readers without reaching a resolution, and those alone will have me coming back for more.
-Reviewed by Joelene Pynnonen, Independent Book Review

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shari Decter Hirst (January 3, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 439 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1777515149
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1777515140
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.63 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.99 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 37 ratings

About the author

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Sherilyn Decter

Sherilyn Decter

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Do you love flappers and gangsters? See yourself in a fedora or fringe?

The Roaring Twenties and Prohibition were a fantasy land, coming right after the horrors and social upheaval of World War I. Even a century later, it all seems so exotic.

Women got the vote, started working outside the home, and (horrors!) smoked and drank in public places. They even went on unchaperoned dates (gasp)! Corsets were thrown into the back of the closets, and shoes were discovered to be an addictive fashion accessory after hemlines started to rise. And thanks to Prohibition, suddenly it was fashionable to break the law. The music was made in America- ragtime, delta blues, and of course jazz. Cocktails were created to hide the taste of the bathtub gin. Flappers were dancing, beads and fringes flying. Fedoras were tipped. And everyone was riding around in automobiles (aka struggle buggies and I leave it to your imagination why- wink.)

Bootleggers' Chronicles grew out of that fascination. Writing as Sherilyn Decter, I will eventually have a series of historical crime fiction novels dealing with the bootleggers, gangsters, flappers, public corruption, and the general lawlessness that defined Prohibition.

Growing up on the prairies and living next to the ocean, I am a creature of endless horizons. Writing allows me to discover what's just over the next one. I live in a century old house and perhaps its creaks and groans have inspired my love of history. My husband and I have three amazing daughters, a couple of spoiled grandchildren whom I adore, and two bad dogs.

For more information about Sherilyn Decter, visit her webpage at https://sherilyndecter.com

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
37 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Virginia H.
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2023
Verified Purchase
Weaving history with mystery, this series had me hooked from the beginning. Decter tells fascinating stories that shed light on overlooked and/or swept under the rug aspects of history. No matter the era, people are people struggling with the same wants and needs. Begin with Big Sky Murder.
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JJ
3.0 out of 5 stars I had such high hopes!
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2023
After reading the blurb about this book, I thought I would really enjoy it. But, it just fell short. I never connected with the characters and it didn’t hold my interest. I did finish it, but it wasn’t one I’ll remember. I received a free copy from the Niche Reader.
One person found this helpful
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David M Barber
5.0 out of 5 stars Historical fiction at its best
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2023
I am a big fan of historical fiction. Learning about the past has always been a passion. When done well, historical fiction helps flesh out the history by putting human faces on the events that can otherwise seem dry and at times even boring. To be successful, historical fiction also must share a sense of place. It also helps to encase all this in a page-turning mystery. Soiled Dove Murders by Sherilyn Decter does all this with skill. From the first page I was hooked. Lucie Santoro decides to spend part of her summer vacation helping a former student find a missing Chinese prostitute. Lucie is joined by her moonshiner friend, Delores Bailey. Before long, the strait-laced schoolteacher and her lawbreaking friend find themselves in danger for their own lives as they must face down a violent tong and a local sheriff who is less than helpful. Lucie also has to face her own inhibitions as she reconciles her prim schoolteacher self with helping the bordello madam just because the madam is a former student.
This is the third book in a series, but the first one I have read. I look forward to more. I received a free copy of this book via The Niche Reader.
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Elizabeth
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Read
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2023
I read this without having read the previous books in the series, but was still able to enjoy it as a standalone.
The characters were engaging and likeable. The plot wasn't outlandish like some bootlegger/murder books are. I liked the true history woven in, you could tell research had been done on the Chinese immigrants and the time period.
I would definitely recommend this book to those interested in historical fiction.

I received a free copy of this book via The Niche Reader
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Top reviews from other countries

Joshy
5.0 out of 5 stars Top Notch
Reviewed in Germany on March 2, 2023
Verified Purchase
Decter’s weaved yet another fast-paced tale full of feisty dames and set against a fascinating, historically accurate backdrop that quickly pulled me into her world. Loved it.
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