The Mystery at Sag Bridge - Paperback

by Pat Camalliere (Author)

A century-old murder mystery...A dangerous ghost...An amateur historian...What binds them together?

Cora Tozzi is a retired businesswoman who, after nursing her mother through her final illness, wishes only for a peaceful orderly world in her suburban Chicago home. When an angry spirit begins to leave cryptic messages on her computer and threatens those around her, Cora is forced to dig into the town's notorious past to uncover secrets that will free the bonds that tie her and the spirit. With the help of her husband and their friend, Frannie, Cora uses her skills as an amateur historian in a search that takes them into unexpected terrain including subterranean passages, an eerie graveyard, and shadowy paths in isolated forests where a sinister predator is awakened. As they battle unpredictable supernatural powers, the story takes a poignant turn: the spirit's life is revealed, and both women, a century apart, examine threads into the past and the future, their loss and longing linked across the generations.

Readers' Favorite: "The Mystery at Sag Bridge by Pat Camalliere is a wonderful gem of a read....

"The story takes place in a historic setting, though both Cora's and Mavourneen's tales are fictional. In-depth history research went into this writing, and it clearly shows. Cora and Mavourneen's characters were full of depth and personality. I felt myself drawn into their stories, sharing emotions with their ups and downs.

"Other characters were handled with equal care. One place that really sticks in mind is the response of a young boy who proclaimed that a flowering cactus must not have liked another character because it never bloomed till after said person's death. Typical brutal yet amusing candor from young ones.

"I am an anthropologist/archaeologist by training, and I loved the attention to historic detail. My favourite part, hands down, is the middle section, Mavourneen's section, dealing with the end of the 1890s....

"The story puts me in mind of Henry James' The Turn of the Screw, and the movie The Others, only happier. If you liked either of those, or things similar, give Camalliere's The Mystery at Sag Bridge a try. I'm quite sure you'll enjoy it "

Susan Roy, President, Lemont Area Historical Society: "Pat Camalliere has crafted a compelling mystery that introduces readers to the unique history and features of Lemont, while immersing the characters in a tender exploration of how our mothers influence our lives. All readers who enjoy mystery, history, engaging characters, or a touch of the supernatural will love this book."

Author Biography

KIRKUS REVIEWS
www.kirkusreviews.com
Cold Case meets Ghost Whisperer in Camalliere's debut mystery.

A capricious spirit, a mysterious wolf, and a 100-year-old unsolved triple homicide lead Cora Tozzi on a journey to uncover the history of Sag Bridge. Lemont, the tiny village, nowadays melded into the Chicago suburb where Cora and her husband, Cisco, live, was a hub of activity in the late 1800s during the building of canals that would link the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River. Retired, Cora devotes her time to the library, the historical society, a book club, and other assorted committees. She also hides a secret.

Throughout her life, one that she herself describes as quite fortunate, Cora has had the sense that some sort of supernatural entity has been watching over her. A door closing unexpectedly, a paper clip flying across the room, all signaled the presence of "something." Cora began calling this presence "Angel." But lately, the previously playful Angel has been gaining strength and exhibiting some dangerously angry behavior. Is Angel responsible for the bizarre accident that left a hostile member of Cora's book club fighting for her life? Is she demanding something specific from Cora? And why did Angel attach herself to Cora in the first place? In her search for answers, Cora learns of the century-old murder of a young couple and their newborn baby girl.... Camalliere peppers her narrative with well-drawn depictions of life in turn-of-the-last-century Sag Bridge, and her characters are rather charming....there are a few surprises left for the very end.

A lively twist on the historical fiction genre by a promising author.

Red City Review: "Told with storyteller's craft, The Mystery at Sag Bridge is fiction at its best. Rich landscapes and a world steeped in mysticism brings the world lushly to life. Written from Cora's point of view, the story moves from past to present giving the reader a sensation of being pulled back and forth in time. Camalliere has created a compelling narrative with complex characters. Revealing how two women relate to their families, friends, and the community around them. Cora's depth of character growth throughout the book is a testament to Camalliere's skill and writing prowess. Whatever you are looking for in a good read, you will [find] a little bit of everything in The Mystery at Sag Bridge."