What sets The Actress apart from most murder mysteries is a wry sense of ironic humor that permeates events seen through the eyes of the narrator-Martha McRae, boarding house owner and publisher of a small-town newspaper." Diane Donovan. The Actress-America's most famous actress, Tallulah Ivey, is in Solo, Mississippi to film a controversial movie about capital punishment. Andrew Dawkins, a prominent Solo citizen, is shot and killed outside her bedroom window. A typewritten note was found clenched in his hand. The note would hold the key to Ivey's guilt or innocence. Martha investigates the who, what, and why in this twisty, suspenseful murder mystery full unforgettable characters and a bit of Christian theology. From the Editor-In-Chief of Southern Writers Magazine after she read The Actress manuscript: "This book captures Thompson's mastery of mystery. His ability to bring his characters to life is truly an art-you forget they aren't real. You find yourself involved in their lives as if you were there. The manner of twist he weaves through the story gives depth to the plot and has you guessing throughout the story, "Who did it?" You don't want the story to end because you don't want to say goodbye to the characters." Susan ReichertProtagonist's Quest: Martha is searching for truth. She wants to help friend Shirley Dawkins understand why her husband was shot outside Tully Ivey's window. The sheriff impedes Martha's progress-until he realizes how smart she is. What's at stake? Mississippi's reputation. Why? Because the movie being filmed will make Mississippians look like heathens for executing the most evil man who ever set foot in Solo. Capital punishment is the issue. More from Diane Donovan, Donovan Literary Services: Christian readers who love a good mystery are in for a treat with Michael Hicks Thompson's new novel in the Solo series-The Actress. It weaves a diverse cast of characters from all walks of life into a lively story replete with intrigue, humor, and religious inspection. It's not an easy job to keep all these facets in balance while juggling a series of puzzling events, but The Actress performs admirably, enriched by the fact that it is inspired by a true story. The author keeps the story line clean, reflective, and delightfully revealing-all this tempered with passages about Mississippi culture that include social insights, as well. The subtlety of these approaches belies any belief that the story will become preachy, staid, or predictable. These characters are rooted in their small-town traditions and beliefs; but his doesn't mean they are inflexible, prejudiced, or single-minded. In fact, these beliefs ground them and enable them to examine their world and its events with a solid foundation of faith mixed with social consciousness. Are the events coincidences? Or, does God have a purpose in mind, even in murder? Watch for the clues that ultimately lead to real answers. The result is a delightfully lively, clear, clean production filled with a fun group of disparate characters whose choices and decisions affect and reflect a small town's God-fearing approaches to life, justice, and death. All mystery readers will be delighted with its wry observational style and the humor which is embedded into a search for the truth. | The Actress by Michael Hicks Thompson, Paperback | Indigo Chapters