When you live in a place long enough, it gets to be a part of you. Keyhole Bay – and my little corner of it in particular, the junkyard inherited from my daddy – is that place for me. Name’s Sylvester, but call me “Sly.” All my friends do.
I tried to move away once, but that was a long time ago, and the world was a different place then. I saw a lot of that ol’ world, and there weren’t anywhere made me want to set down roots and stay.
My uncle, Uncle Sam, he tried to show me the rest of the world. He sent me to cold and foggy Fort Ord, then some steamy jungles in Asia, and on to a German hospital for a short time. Ain’t none of those places I wanted to go back to.
So I came back to Keyhole Bay, to the people and the place I knew. To the place that was a part of me.
My life here is good. Wasn’t always; being a black man in the South had what they call issues, and there were some good ol’ boys who didn’t think much of me, even if I was a vet. But there were some good people too, people like Miss Glory’s Uncle Louis.
Nowadays I spend my time in the junkyard with Bobo, the best dog a man ever had. Sometimes I get a visitor, like how I met Miss Glory, but not so often as to be a nuisance.
Most days it’s just me and Bobo, keeping the yard clean and organized, and filling the orders that come from all over. That’s the part most people don’t know: there’s a fax machine in my office that spits out parts orders from clear across the country. Me and Bobo pull the parts, and I send ’em out quick as I can.
My house is done up the way I like, I’m comfortable here, and mostly folks let me be.
Well, except for that Fowler fellow. He’d like me to sell him my place and move on. Stops by every couple weeks, saying I ought to retire and enjoy what he calls my “golden years.” Just goes to show you how much he knows. Hell (pardon my French), I am enjoying my years, golden or not.
And there ain’t no way he’s ever getting his hands on my property. I intend to stay here until I die. Old Mister Wilson knows what to do when I’m gone, and Fowler won’t like it no better than he likes it now.
But for now I have a good life here, me and Bobo. And now that we have Miss Glory and her friends, it’s even better.
It’s like Judy Garland said in that old movie, “There’s no place like home.”
So tell me, friend, where’s home for you? What place is in your blood and won’t let you go?
** Thanks to the publisher, I have one (1) copy of MURDER HOOKS A MERMAID to give away. Contest open to US residents only and ends January 17 . Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. The book will be shipped directly from the publisher. **
Meet the author
Christy Fifield, author of the Haunted Gift Shop Mysteries is just one of writer Christina F. York’s many alter egos.
Fifield’s latest from Berkley Prime Crime, Murder Hooks a Mermaid, released on December 31, a sequel to her March release, Murder Buys a T-Shirt. And look for Murder Sends a Postcard in 2014.
As Christy Evans she wrote the Lady Plumber series (Sink Trap, Lead Pipe Cinch, Drip Dead), also for Berkley Prime Crime.
She also writes science fiction, fantasy, and romance as Christina F. York.
They all live in sight of the Pacific Ocean, with husband and fellow writer J. Steven York (Panorama Beach Mysteries, Tsunami Ridge Publishing) and their feline overlords.
Visit Christy at her website, on Twitter or Facebook.
Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
I am looking forward to this book. Thank you for the chance to win it.
A story with wonderful characters – should be a great read!
I like the way Christy writes and would love to get a copy of her book!
I haven’t heard of this series… but sounds good. Will definitely put it on my book list. Thanks for the review!
jrobinson12 (at) austin (dot) rr (dot) com
i would love to win!
This sounds like a great book and I would love to win. Thanks for the review.
lmyost (at) roadrunner (dot) com
Sounds like a good read, thank you for the chance to win this book.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
I would love a copy of MURDER HOOKS A MERMAID . Thanks for having this contest.
I grew up on a Dairy Farm, and I miss the country life sometimes.. =) Everything was so peaceful…
Im looking forward to this book, thanks for the chance to win!
Great review!
How much fun is this! Love It!
nlb1050(at)yahoo(dot)com
I hadn’t heard of this series, but I love the voice the author has shown us. It’s going on my must-read list.
Another series that I’ll have to try!
Wow, I guess I’ve got some shopping to do because this author has more than one series and they all sounds like a hoot. Sign me up, please. judydee22002@yahoo dot com
I’ve come back to New England 4 times in this lifetime so I’ve pretty much settled in. This looks to be a promising series.
Thanks for the invitation, Dru Ann!! So glad to be here with you … And Sly and Bono, of course. As for me? Home is the ocean. Always.
Bobo!!!! Blasted autocorrect. Naturally I spot the typo as soon as I hit send!
I so understand how Sly likes home–I do, too, but I have some wandering bones in my body and yearn to do a little traveling, too. This sounds like a promising series for me to me.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
That’s me to read—not me to me. The fingers and brain are not coordinated today.
another add to my WishList!!
thank you for the giveaway!!!!
Sounds like a great read!
I love Savannah, GA for the history that is present there. It is in my blood
Sounds like a great series to read. I will be adding it to my tbr pile. 🙂
elisanabby at gmail dot com
Thanks Christy and Sly for stopping by my reading blog.
Love Cozy mysteries. Can’t wait to read.
This sounds great – would love to win a copy!
contest is closed.