Friday, July 20, 2018

The Mystery Of The Lost Avenger (Book Four) - by Linda Maria Frank



 The Mystery Of The Lost Avenger (Book Four) - by Linda Maria Frank

The wreckage of a World War II plane is found in the mountains of Appalachia. It mysteriously crashed in 1943 on its way to a naval base. Inside the plane is a note, written by Annie Tillery’s great-grandmother, Charlotte, who was in love with a fighter pilot. Young Charlotte tested the planes and flew them to naval bases; her fiancé flew the planes in battle.

While investigating the crash site, NCIS finds the note in the plane, which they trace to Charlotte and then to her surviving family members, Annie and her mother Carol. The mystery begins. Why did the plane crash, and what does Charlottes note mean? Annie and her mother decide to dig into Great-Grandmothers past by way of the aged family attic.

There, they find love letters written by Charlotte and her Navy pilot fiancé. There is a code to be broken in those letters and The Mystery of the Lost Avenger to be solved. As they explore, Annie suspects Charlottes ghost is reaching out to tell her something, but what? She enlists the help of her boyfriend, newly licensed pilot Ty Egan, but Annie feels she may be the key to her great-grandmothers top-secret life.

Cold Coffee Review: Good news for all Annie Tillery Mystery Followers. The Mystery Of The Lost Avenger (book 4) is finally here. This book educates young minds using this fictional mystery that involves NCIS investigating the crash site of a World War II plane.

Turns out the pilot was Annie Tillery’s great-grandmother Charlotte who was a test pilot for Grumman and actually flew in battle. Annie, her mother Carol are intrigued by Charlotte’s note and decide to dig through the old family attic to see what they can find out about this mysterious family member. What they discover in the attic only adds to the mystery and soon Annie suspects that Charlotte’s ghost is reaching out to them from beyond the grave with an important message.

Annie’s decides to get her boyfriend Ty Egan who happens to be a pilot involved. Here is their conversation.

“Ty, you won’t believe what Mom has been telling me about a mystery concerning my great-grandmother. Mom, this is your story, and maybe Ty can see something we don’t. Can you fill him in on the details, so far? I’m just hearing this story for the first time, too.”

“Well, let me start with . . .” She shuffled the papers in her lap. “Here’s the letter we received from the Department of the Navy. And here’s a copy of a note we found in the plane. The note is written on some sort of a company form with and identification number on it. The number belonged to Charlotte, my grandmother.”

“I also have a letter from the Naval Crime Investigation Service about the condition of the plane where they found the note, and the pilot they found in the wreckage. There are skeletonized remains of a person whose identity they are trying to confirm. They know who flew the plane when it went missing, but they must confirm that it is that person. It is a woman.”

Mom added a new thought, “You know, it’s ironic. Charlotte did die in a plane crash many years later. She continued to fly recreationally after the war. When I went to Maryland to see if there was any record of her time at Grumman, I found these letters in the house where Charlotte spent her last years.”

Students and young adults of all ages will enjoy The Mystery Of The Lost Avenger. Although a series each book is unique and stands alone with no need to read in a particular sequence.

I endorse The Mystery Of The Lost Avenger and all the books in the Annie Tillery Mysteries by Linda Maria Frank. I purchased this book from Kindle. The review was completed on June 24, 2016.

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Extra Amazon Customer Reviews:

A timely and cautionary tale about the sad effects of alcoholism and drug addiction is nicely woven.
The Mystery of the Lost Avenger is a well-paced murder mystery which keeps your attention throughout. It is laced with historical references and modern scientific knowledge used in forensics today. The women characters are portrayed as strong and important individuals, and even the ghost is impressive! A timely and cautionary tale about the sad effects of alcoholism and drug addiction is nicely woven in. Add a touch of romance between the two young adult protagonists and you have a well-rounded and entertaining story.
By Adrienne A. Drake on August 27, 2017
Format: Paperback

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This Book Grabs You Right to the End.
The Mystery of the Lost Avenger is a page-turning mystery/ghost story with elements of women's history and the dynamic pair of Annie Tillery and Tyler Egan. The story goes back and forth between the present and WWII's 1943 as the team investigates an Avenger fighter bomber that crashed in 1943, was found in the present, and traced to Annie's family through a note left in the plane by Annie's great grandmother.
Solving the mystery of why the plane crashed takes Annie, Ty, and Annie's mother, Carol, back to great grandmother, Charlotte's, world of wartime plane production and sabotage.
I enjoyed the mixture of mystery, history, forensic science and romance that made me rush from the end of one chapter to the next. Only self-control kept me from peeking into the end of the book to see what happened.
This page-turner is a perfect example of a book that one you pick it up, you can't put it down. I'm hooked on Annie and Ty and will try the other three Annie Tillery mysteries.
By Jack Bilello on February 21, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition

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Intrigue and History

A note inside a plane, a stack of letters and a Latin Dictionary discovered in an attic make for the underpinnings of this suspenseful teen novel. Interesting facts and flying lore give the narrative an authentic feel. The spy/mystery element of the story is well rounded, told in the alternating voices of Charlotte and her Aunt Annie, putting the reader there and heightening the reading experience.
By Reba on September 9, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition

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Well told mystery story.
Annie Tillery is the "millennial’s Nancy Drew". The author has a way of making sure her mysteries have a personal feel.
The stories are well paced. The target audience are tweens and teens but adults who love mysteries will also enjoy this series.
By Trish on January 7, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition

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Genre: Teen, Young Adult, Action, Adventure, Children's


Amazon Print



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Secrets In The Fairy Chimneys (Book Three) - by Linda Maria Frank

Amateur sleuth Annie Tillery has been warned to stay away from Nevshehir, Turkey, where she is heading to meet her boyfriend, Ty Egan, and Cedric Zeeks, Ty’s best friend. Intent on helping the two excavate an archeological site where they hope to link human remains to the first African ancestors, Annie does her best to shakes her foreboding feelings as her plane lands in Istanbul and she prepares to embark on her next adventure.

But when a stranger claims he is there to pick her up and then disappears once he sees Ty, Annie is immediately thrown back into worry mode—especially after Ty tells her there is unexplained tension surrounding the dig and she receives a threatening note at the hotel. Still, as the three head to Nevshehir, Annie is buoyed by the excitement surrounding ancient Turkey and the possibility of uncovering secrets. The dig is plagued by accidents and theft, however, and the three friends, assisted by the head archeologist’s twins, must search the ancient city of Istanbul and the caves of fantastic Cappadocia to find who is sabotaging their work.

In this young adult thriller, detective Annie Tillery must once again walk on a dangerous path in an attempt to unravel a complicated mystery and solve the secrets in the fairy chimneys.

Cold Coffee Review: Annie Tillery Mysterys book three ‘Secrets In The Fairy Chimneys’ can be summed up as Indiana Jones meets Nancy Drew with the skills and precision of CSI. A mystery unfolds amidst a mix of ancient history and modern innovation, in an ageless Eastern country where time moves at a camel’s pace.

Dedicated research by author Linda Maria Frank leaves no stone unturned while great description text transports the reader to the streets of Turkey with it mosques and minarets, towers and modern buildings. One of my favorite quotes from the book is “Water droplets plunked into the pool from the vaulted ceiling. After the heat of the bazaar and the street chase, it was deliciously cool. Ornate columns with carved capitals supported the ceiling. The bases were decorated with animal and human figures. There were a few visitors, but the enormity of the space muffled their conversations.”

Strong characters with great dialog brings us to dusty archeological site in one of the oldest towns in human history called Catalhoyuk. Nothing can explain it better than this quote: “We were in a valley of shapes I couldn’t believe were not made by humans, humans with a fabulous imagination. Conical formations called fairy chimneys in various sizes spread away from us in every direction. The color of bleached bones, they sat majestically among the gray-green brush and white claylike soil. The air shimmered from the heat. I could smell the odor of clay mixed with a faint herbal scent that must have come from the brush.”

Cosponsors from Vermont University are looking for a DNA connection between residents of Catalhoyuk and our original nomadic ancestors in Africa. Annie Tillery and her team go to work excavating this archeological site with all its inherit dangers and a mystery brings out the detective in Annie.

From the spell of an Ouija board to a magical balloon ride in the sky nothing is lost as this time and space makes all their senses come alive with amazing black and white graphics that bring the main characters to life.

Students and young adults of all ages will enjoy Annie Tillery Mysteries. Although a series each book is unique and stands alone with no need to read in a particular sequence.

I endorse ‘Secrets In The Fairy Chimneys’ and the Annie Tillery Mysteries by Linda Maria Frank. We received a PDF version of this book for review. Review completion date February 5, 2015.

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery




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 Girl With Pencil, Drawing (Book Two) – by Linda Maria Frank

Seventeen-year-old amateur detective Annie Tillery is at it again.

After she wins a series of art lessons at a prestigious art gallery, Annie shows up for her first lesson to find her instructor, Francesca Gabrielli, in a volatile argument with John DiCristiani, the art gallery's director. He is demanding that she illegally copy art masterpieces. Unwittingly, Annie is about to be drawn into the illicit, treacherous, and unpredictable world of art forgery. When DiCristiani is found murdered in cold blood, Francesca becomes the prime suspect.

She calls upon Annie to help solve the crime along with her NYPD detective aunt, Jill Tillery. They must brave the dangers of an international art fraud ring in an attempt to clear Francesca's name. They discover that the key to solving the case revolves around a mysterious brownstone in Brooklyn whose inhabitants present tantalizing and elusive clues. As Annie and company attempt to stay one step ahead of DiCristiani's murderer, they escape one deadly trap after another. The stakes are high in the glamorous yet dangerous world of illegal art trafficking. Annie must solve the crime to save her life and that of her friends.

Cold Coffee Review: Annie Tillery Mysterys book two Girl with Pencil, Drawing is a spectacular read for students and young adults of all ages. Each book in the Annie Tiller Mystery Series is unique and stands alone with no need to read in a particular sequence.

The story line in ‘Girl with Pencil, Drawing’ by Author Linda Maria Frank draws the young reader into an adventure where young Annie Tillery goes for her first art lesson at a prestigious Art Gallery. With youthful exuberance and an eagerness to advance her drawing skills Annie arrives early. When she enters the studio, she overhears a heated argument between two people who turn out to be her Art Instructor Francesca Gabrielli and the Art Gallery Director John DiCristiani.

Annie’s empathy for others and her sleuth personally draws her into a murder mystery when John DiCristiani turns up dead and Francesca Gabrielli is the prime suspect, Annie enlists the help of her Aunt Jill who is a NYPD Detective to help clear her new-found friend and art mentor’s name.

With strong characters, flowing dialog and layers of mystery, soon everyone is caught up in a real who-dun-it that involves a long list of suspects and hidden clues. Twists and turns with all the dangers that come into play when an International Art Fraud has been perpetrated.

I invite you to go beyond this headline: “Manhattan Business-Man Found Slain in Chelsea. John DiCristiani, a wealthy business man, whose financial interests reached as far as Hong Kong and Istanbul, was found shot to death in his posh apartment overlooking the Hudson River. Mr. DiCristiani’s body was found by an employee from his Soho gallery. The police questioned the employee, Ms. Francesca Gabrielli, at headquarters, but subsequently released her. Police would only confide that the murder weapon was found at the scene and that all other leads were being investigated. Mr. DiCristiani is survived by a son, Mark, twenty-five, a law student at New York University.”

Learn the ins and out of the art world that include how scientists tests for authenticity in original paintings by world renown artist like Renoir and the lucrative forgeries that make this underworld as treacherous as any international mob association.

Follow the clues, wait for the DNA evidence and sift through the ashes left by an arsonist. Inspire a young reader to discover the innate detective skills of Annie Tillery who is fast becoming the next Nancy Drew. This series should be placed on our schools’ summer reading list.

I endorse ‘Girl with Pencil, Drawing’ and the Annie Tillery Mysteries by Linda Maria Frank. We received a PDF version of this book for review. Review completion date March 24, 2015.

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery





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The Madonna Ghost (Book One) – by Linda Maria Frank

Seventeen-year-old Annie Tillery and her Aunt Jill set off for Long Island's Fire Island for a vacation of surf, sun, and sailing. Annie is happy to leave behind the stress of her relationship with her parents.

Aunt Jill, who is an NYPD detective, is mixing her vacation with a case she must keep secret from Annie, who is suspicious nevertheless. Annie finds romance and intrigue when she meets Ty Egan, the nephew of their host on the island. They find themselves in the middle of an eerie adventure when she and Ty investigate the tragic and perplexing story of a local ghost.

Annie becomes increasingly uneasy and the investigation turns sinister when Aunt Jill goes missing, the ghost appears, and the troublesome neighbors in the cottage next door become hostile. When they find one of Aunt Jill's special earrings on the neighbor's porch, they begin to wonder what she was doing there.

Will they find Aunt Jill before it's too late?

In the breathless conclusion to their investigation, Annie and Ty narrowly escape death solving the mystery of The Madonna Ghost.

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery





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Making A Mystery With Annie Tillery: The Madonna Ghost
(With Enhanced Interactive Material) - by Linda Maria Frank

In addition to the first Annie Tillery Mystery, this book contains an insight into how the author wrote the book. These are materials pertaining to writing style, character development and research, as well as ideas for additional activities such as lesson plans for teachers, and discussion questions. Follow the writer's journey toward producing a page-turning adventure with history, mystery and science. "The Madonna Ghost" which is the basis for this exploration into the writer's journey is described as follows. How lucky can you get? A vacation at a beach brings Annie Tillery a ghost story and a boyfriend. But what is the ghost hiding, and will Ty Egan and Annie Tillery discover the secrets of the Madonna Ghost, and the menacing neighbors who seem linked to her?



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Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview With Author Linda Maria Frank

Bio for Author, Linda Maria Frank: With the introduction of the Annie Tillery Mysteries, Linda Maria Frank has been launching her career as author. Inspired by a childhood passion for Nancy Drew mysteries and the popular television series, CSI, she successfully married an appealing heroine (Annie Tillery) with gripping story plots to create a new fiction series. The Madonna Ghost, Girl with Pencil, Drawing and Secrets in the Fairy Chimneys and The Mystery of the Lost Avenger will have you turning pages, fascinated by the background stories and forensic science that make these books a must read for mystery fans.

Frank’s first love was teaching science, her assignments ranging from Middle School to graduate level courses at Hofstra and Adelphi Universities. It was the forensic science courses that gave her the story lines for her heroine, Annie, who is based on a composite of former students.

Frank also produces “The Writer’s Dream”, a local access TV show, interviewing authors about their craft.

Currently she belongs to Long Island Authors Group and Long Island Children’s Writers and Illustrators where she assists in creating school book fairs and other book events.

She lectures on Topics in Forensic Science, as well as doing workshops on Mystery Writing for 5th grade to high school.

Interview:

What makes you proud to be a writer from greater NYC? I learned that being a good storyteller was a good teaching technique. In my mystery series I have been able to weave some good tales using the history of my native Long Island, including not only historical facts but science as well. One reviewer claims that I can really “sneak in those facts”.

What or who inspired you to become a writer? I wanted to use my story telling skills in a way that could reach out to a broader audience.

When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? In 2009. The first two books were written when I took a writing course. I really didn’t know how to write a book, so I took a course in novel writing. My mentor said they were good, but it would take time to get them traditionally published. I put them aside. When self-publishing became a recognized entity, I decided to publish, picked a company, and in 2010 had my first published book.

What has been your most rewarding experience with your writing process? Doing book fairs and lectures where book purchasers seem excited to read the book, or who have read one and really want the next one.

How many published books do you have? Five

Please list the titles of all your books: The Madonna Ghost, Girl with Pencil, Drawing, Secrets in the Fairy Chimneys, The Mystery of the Lost Avenger, Making a Mystery with Annie Tillery: The Madonna Ghost.

Please introduce your main genre and why you prefer to write in that genre? Mystery. It’s exciting. I can use my expertise in forensic science. The genre lends itself to exciting setting. I like to set the stage for some hair-raising and thrilling passages. I especially like my main characters, Annie Tillery and Tyler Egan. It’s fun solving the mysteries through their personae.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing? My garden gives me great pleasure in the warmer months. In winter I enjoy cross country skiing.

What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors? Learn to make the Internet you best friend and most useful tool for research, and for marketing ideas.

Who is your favorite author and why?  Steven King. He is a master at roping you into unlikely plots with his ability to create suspense and sympathetic characters.

Additional Questions or Information (Given by Author):
As stated in my bio, I produce and mostly host a local access TV show, seen also on YouTube, The Writer’s Dream. I interview authors, and if you watch the show, you can glean some very good tips.

Book Awards: Young Adults/Teen: Linda Maria Frank, New York
https://wnbnetworkwest.com/WnbAuthorsShowTopFemale-results.html


Professional Website
http://www.lindamariafrank.com/

Professional Blog (newsletters)
http://lindamariafrank.com/my-blog/newsletters/


Twitter: @annietillery123

Google+: Linda Maria Frank

Producer Of The Writer’s Dream
http://http://www.youtube.com/user/lindamariafrank


Author Keys Program
http://www.coldcoffeepress.com


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