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Three children playing in a barn. A deadly accident…and then a void.

When Lorene Whitten returns to Garland, Kansas, because of her father’s illness, she is shocked to find that her childhood playmate, Cassa, has been missing all of this time. The Lander farm evokes haunting, ghost-like memories of her little playmate, as if Cassa were beckoning to her from the grave. Lorene starts asking questions and encounters resistance from the close-knit group of three long-time friends and town leaders who call themselves the Knights of Garland, of which her father is a member. Ethan Lander, the boy who was with them in the barn that day, offers to help her locate Cassa. But Lorene wonders if his real goal is to prevent her from finding out the truth. And what of her own disturbing memories? Lorene must find out what really happened that day. Was Cassa the victim of an ill-fated accident, or murder?

Targeted Age Group:: General Readership

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
In a creative writing class we were urged to share memories. The memories we had were pleasant, but we both got to thinking…what if they weren't? What if something emerged from the subconscious that wasn't quite understood? A secret from the past…
We were also inspired by a true story about a little girl who disappeared. Her family was estranged and each branch thought the other had her. Then, someone began asking about her and found she had been missing for many years.

How Did You Come up With Your Characters?
Our characters arose from our growing up in Kansas. In this book we tried to depict the beauty of the state and the character of the people who live in close-knit farming communities.

Book Sample
The sudden noise and motion caused the kitten to panic, and it leaped from her arms and darted up into the loft. Cassa hastily climbed the ladder that was nailed against the frame. Lorene could see her at the top, chasing after the kitten, then she disappeared from view.
Lorene, face turned upward, stopped and looked up at them. Her dad had made her promise never to climb up into the loft. “There’s too much danger of your falling,” he had warned. No matter how much she wanted to follow Cassa to the top, she remained below. Her dad would be picking her up any minute, and she couldn’t be up there when he came.
Her gaze remained fastened on the loft. She didn’t look around, but was aware that Ethan wasn’t behind her any longer. She did recall wondering where he had gone and thinking that she should be on the alert for she was sure he intended to capture them and bring them to justice.
Lorene waited, and a mist descended, cloaking everything in frightening silence. She caught a glimpse of the big-eared kitten peering down over the edge of the loft, watching her from a safe distance with eyes as big as moons.
As Lorene watched, the cat disappeared from view. Then she heard a noise, like the pathetic cry of a small animal in pain.
The memory always stopped there, leaving an ominous void filled only with that terrible cry. It rang in her ears now, repeating again and again. The room seemed suddenly hot, sweltering. She felt light-headed, faint.
“Lorene?” The instructor was standing above the desk chair, concern clear in his eyes. “Are you feeling all right?”
She knew she had given an audible gasp. Lorene forced a smile. “Fine,” she replied. She glanced down at the notebook in her hands. She hastily tore out the paper and crumpled it into her pocket, instinctively knowing what she had written there was not anything she wanted to share.

Author Bio:
Sisters writing team, Loretta Jackson and Vickie Britton, are authors of over fifty novels, mostly mysteries, adventure, westerns, and romance suspense. Among their work is the eight-book Ardis Cole mystery series where archeologist, Ardis Cole, travels to Egypt, Russia, China, Scotland, and other vivid locations that the sisters have visited and solves a crime. Among their latest work is Blame it on Bigfoot, the High Country Mystery Series, a contemporary mystery series featuring Wyoming sheriff Jeff McQuede. Among their single titles are their romance/suspense titles: The Vanished Lady, Arctic Legacy, The Viking Crown, and one of their latest releases, The Victim's Child. Loretta lives in Junction City, Kansas, and Vickie in Hutchinson, Kansas where they write full time.

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Links to Purchase Print Books
Buy The Knights of Garland Murder Print Edition at Amazon

Links to Purchase eBooks
Link To Buy The Knights of Garland Murder On Amazon

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