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Leaden Skies
Leaden Skies
Leaden Skies
Ebook363 pages5 hours

Leaden Skies

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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"Parker is proficient in showing the crossroads between civilization and the frontier, including emerging new roles for women. A cliffhanger ending sets a promising stage for the next installment."—Publishers Weekly

It's the summer of 1880, and potential investment in Leadville's silver mines has brought former president and Civil War general Ulysses S. Grant to this city at the top of the Rockies. But others in his retinue and in town have different agendas. Political aspirations fuel the dreams of young John Quincy Adams Wesley and his mother, while itinerant fire insurance mapmaker Cecil Farnesworth struggles against the seductive call of Leadville's red-light district.

As part owner of the Silver Queen Saloon, Inez Stannert has often observed the ruination that comes from yielding to temptation. Still, that hasn't stopped her from taking Reverend Justice Sands as her lover. Nor does it stop her from striking a backroom deal with upscale brothel madam Frisco Flo that Inez gambles will make her financially independent.

But when the body of one of Flo's women is discovered and Inez learns that Flo has another silent business partner whose identity she will not divulge, Inez begins to have second thoughts. In a race to untangle the dealings of the high and the low during Grant's visit, Inez finds herself facing demons from her past, even as she fights to save her reputation and her life.

Silver Rush Mysteries:

Silver Lies (Book 1)

Iron Ties (Book 2)

Leaden Skies (Book 3)

Mercury's Rise (Book 4)

What Gold Buys (Book 5)

A Dying Note (Book 6)

Mortal Music (Book 7)

Praise for the Silver Rush Mysteries:

"Plenty of convincing action bodes well for a long and successful series."—Publishers Weekly STARRED review for Iron Ties

"Meticulously researched and full of rich period details…her characters will stay will you long after you've finished the last page. Highly recommended."—TASHA ALEXANDER, New York Times bestselling author for Mortal Music

"One of the most authentic and evocative historical series around. Long live Inez!"—RHYS BOWEN, New York Times bestselling author for What Gold Buys

Colorado Book Award Finalist

LanguageEnglish
Release dateNov 22, 2011
ISBN9781615951475
Leaden Skies
Author

Ann Parker

Ann Parker is the author of the award-winning Silver Rush historical mystery series set in 1880s, featuring saloon owner Inez Stannert. A science writer by day, Ann lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Women Writing the West.

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Rating: 4.1499998499999995 out of 5 stars
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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is the third book in the Silver Rush Mysteries and I enjoyed it but for some reason not as much as the first two. I'm not sure why, the characters were still engaging and the setting is outstanding. Maybe it was the heavy involvement of "ladies of the evening" combined with some pretty vicious people. That and I've never been a big Ulysses S. Grant fan and he has some role in what is going on here.

    I'll continue with the series - I have to after the last line of the book (no spoilers here and you really need to read the whole book to get the full effect of that last line).

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Leaden Skies - Ann Parker

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