The Nugget that Spurred THE BARTERED BODY by J.R. Lindermuth
After retiring from my former job as a newspaper
editor I began writing a weekly column for the paper on local history. This fit
in well with the new post I accepted as librarian of our county historical
society where I assist patrons with genealogy and research. I didn't realize at
the time it would also provide grist for writing fiction.
As I browse through old copies of our paper and
those of surrounding communities in search of material for the column I'm constantly
stumbling on bountiful sources of ideas for my stories. I make copies or jot
down notes on these ideas for further consideration.
Sometimes the idea will lead directly to formation
of a story. Just as often mulling on one of these nuggets will take me off on a
tangent and the completed story will have scant relation to the original
source.
One of these nuggets inspired my latest novel, The
Bartered Body.
In 1876 a band of counterfeiters attempted to steal
Abraham Lincoln's body from his tomb in Springfield, Illinois, and hold it as
ransom for the release of their master engraver from jail. Their plot failed
and the perpetrators joined the engraver behind bars.
Reflecting on this case led me to consider how a
less prominent politician might react to theft of the remains of a person
important to his family. One thing led to another and, thus, was born the plot
for the third novel in the Sheriff Sylvester Tilghman series.
Blurb:
Why would thieves steal the body of a dead
woman?
That’s the most challenging question yet to be faced
by Sylvester Tilghman, the third of his family to serve as sheriff of Arahpot,
Jordan County, Pennsylvania, in the waning days of the 19th century.
And it’s not just any body but that of Mrs.
Arbuckle, Nathan Zimmerman’s late mother-in-law. Zimmerman is burgess of
Arahpot and Tilghman’s boss, which puts more than a little pressure on the
sheriff to solve the crime in a hurry.
Syl’s investigation is complicated by the arrival in
town of a former flame who threatens his relationship with his sweetheart Lydia
Longlow; clashes with his old enemy, former burgess McLean Ruppenthal; a string
of armed robberies, and a record snowstorm that shuts down train traffic, cuts
off telegraph service and freezes cattle in the fields.
It will take all of Syl’s skills and the help of his
deputy and friends to untangle the various threads and bring the criminals to
justice.
The Bartered Body is available in print and
electronic formats from the publisher:
And other fine booksellers.
Biography: A retired newspaper editor/writer, J. R.
Lindermuth is the author of 18 novels and a non-fiction regional history. He is
now librarian of his county historical society and a frequent contributor of
articles and short stories to a variety of magazines. He is a member of
International Thriller Writers and is a past vice president of the Short
Mystery Fiction Society. Additional information on his books and writing is
available at http://www.jrlindermuth.net
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