Funeral Train

The Dust Bowl Mysteries, Book 2

By: Laurie Loewenstein

Narrated by: Kelli Tager

In her gripping follow-up to the widely acclaimed Dust Bowl Mystery Death of a Rainmaker, Laurie Loewenstein brings 1930s Oklahoma evocatively to life.

Already suffering the privations of the 1930s Dust Bowl, an Oklahoma town is further devastated when a passenger train derails—flooding its hospital with the dead and maimed. Among the seriously wounded is Etha, wife of Sheriff Temple Jennings. Overwhelmed by worry for her, the sheriff must regain his footing to investigate the derailment, which rapidly develops into a case of sabotage.

The following night, a local recluse is murdered. Temple has a hunch that this death is connected to the train wreck. But as he dissects the victim’s life with help from the recuperating and resourceful Etha, he discovers a tangle of records that make a number of townsfolk suspects in the murder.

Temple’s investigations take place against the backdrop of the Great Depression—where bootlegging, petty extortion, courage, and bravado play out in equal measure.

©2022 Laurie Loewenstein (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

Great reading

Laurie Loewstein presents a compelling narration with complex character entangled in a mystery. I enjoyed listening to it and i also read some of the chapters. The actor was fabulos performing each character.

Great book

The mystery is great but even better are the characters, the setting, and the history.

Disappointed in the outcome.

This was not developed enough, and too many "happy endings". I had such hope that this book would be more intense- it is not.

Finished in one day

Apropos of this book’s timeline, I wrapped up this story on New Year’s Eve. All of it on New Year’s Eve. Laurie Lowenstein creates a steady pace of the investigation while letting the characters, the setting and the intrigue shine through. I read the first novel of this series. There is something comforting and inviting to know the characters without spoiling the mystery. Can’t wait for the next book!

Vivid characters

Vivid characters, satisfyingly intricate mystery, and a meaningful setting in terms of both time and place make this a memorable read!