Payne & Misery

All that sparks is not gold for Christine Sterling. The luster of her shiny "Golden Years" dream fades when Christine's newly retired husband, Jesse, succumbs to an exciting new hobby requiring long weekends away. Add to this dilemma Christine's dubious "gift" of observation, a super-sized helping of free time, and a double dose of imagination. Sprinkle with peculiar circumstances lurking in the neighborhood and what do you get? Not the glittering paradise of togetherness Jesse promised. You get trouble. Big trouble. Christine has already developed a bad reputation for conjuring wild tales to explain ordinary occurrences. Who is likely to take her seriously when she discovers a bruised and neglected neighbor named Lila Payne? Try as she might, she cannot interest anyone in Lila's dire need for immediate rescue. Something about crying wolf once too often. But when Lila and Christine's beloved Border collie Molly both disappear the same night, Christine dives headfirst into a dark pool swirling with muddy secrets and misery. Her best friend throws her a lifesaver of prayer and she begins to sense God at work in the situation. But even with God's help, can they save Lila and Molly before it's too late?ReviewIn a tale of mystery and crime, reminiscent of the Alfred Hitchcock mystery Rear Window, Catherine Leggitt brings readers into the small town of Grass Valley, California. This is a town where watching neighbors through basement windows can lead to some serious drama. With a setting drawn from the author's surroundings and emotional turmoil from personal experience, the characters and situation take on the qualities of a believable tale of Payne & Misery. The main character, Christine Sterling, feels lost in retired life, unappreciated by her husband, and lonely but for the Bible-thumping Christian down the street. As we come to know Christine further we discover that she is in a situation typical of many retirees, however Christine is no stereotypical woman. Her adventures range from breaking and entering to spying, and though sometimes done without finesse it's always effective in getting to the truth. Payne & Misery depicts the tribulation and torment of humanity, and the difference between those who live in it and those who choose live despite it. An important aspect of the novel is Christine's discovery of God's plan for her. Since Christine has a murder mystery on her hands and she can't make the clues appear, she is forced to wait for God to reveal them. It is a lesson on how patience for God trumps acting on human impulse.The plot is sound and the story, as well as the characters, are endearing. Christine Sterling has just been introduced to us and her next adventure, The Dunn Deal, in April 2012 is sure to be just as inspiring! --Cassondra Plucknett, Publishing Manager for Ellechor Publishing About the AuthorCatherine Leggitt is an author, editor, and inspirational speaker. A native Californian born in the Bay Area, she raised two daughters, taught school, and cared for her aging parents in southern California before retiring to northern California. Writing is Catherine's number one distraction.