Author Helga Stipa Madland is on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book promoting her humorous mystery, TURTLE BAY.
Helga was born in Upper Silesia, now a part of southwest Poland. She, along with her mother and sister, became refugees in 1945 and her father, a forester, had been drafted. The family left their home, along with other family members, and relocated to West Germany.
Helga and her family came to the United States in 1954 by way of Canada. Graduating from Helias High School in Jefferson City, Missouri, she also lived for a time in Idaho. She later married Bill ‘Spike’ Madland and they had three children. Helga went on to get her B.A. in German and English and a Ph.D. in German with a minor in Spanish, divorced, remarried and is now Professor Emeritus of Modern Languages at the University of Oklahoma.
Helga and her second husband, Richard Beck, reside with their two dogs - Questor, a long-haired dachshund, and Peter, a sort of schnauzer-terrier mix - and four domestic house cats - Tassos, a languid, yellowish feline; Gretel, his tortoise shell sister; Percy, a calico cat;, and Fritz, a very hairy cartoon cat.
For more on Helga and her writing, visit her website at www.dachshundscanflyhelga.com
TURTLE BAY by Helga Stipa Madland
in to investigate the robbery of several expensive paintings stolen from the lobby of Turtle Bay, the famous resort in Oahu (Hawaii). Normally one to investigate murders, Kahamala is dispatched to the scene of the robbery by direct request of his police chief.Kahamala leaves his 12-year-old twin daughters, Myra and Maya, and their dachshund, Questor, in the capable hands of a family friend known affectionately as Aunt Beatrice. Since his wife’s death, the eccentric woman helped out from time to time with the children.
Meanwhile, Audubon University’s English Department is holding their annual Fall Retreat at Turtle Bay adding to the madness. A delay in his investigation results in Kahamala having his daughters, Aunt Beatrice and Questor join him at Turtle Bay.
When an English professor goes missing from the retreat, Kahamala finds he has two cases to solve. Before long the girls, Aunt Beatrice and Questor are also snooping around to help with the cases. English Department politics and family complications are just the tip of the iceberg as Questor puts his nose to solving the mysteries.
The author has created a fanciful plot with engaging characters that will hold your attention from the first page until the end. TURTLE BAY moves at a steady pace with twists and turns. The witty dialogue will pull you in and have you smiling as you try to solve the mysteries before everyone else.
Great detail has been given to the setting by the author. Her vivid descriptions of the area place the reader in the midst of the scene. The addition of the twins and the dog involved in the solution makes for a delightful read.
Turtle Bay, A Mystery by Helga Stipa Madland, Aventine Press, @2012, ISBN: 978-1593307400, Paperback, 238 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book as part of the author’s virtual book tour and it was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Thank you for stopping by today. Do you enjoy books that blend family life into the main character’s work?
Mason - This sounds like a really interesting read! I like the setting and Madland has such a fascinating background! It sounds as though there's an effective blend here of the actual mystery and Kahamala's family life too. Thanks for sharing this with us!
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