Since I was a kid I’ve enjoyed
learning about WWII, but unlike most people my focus wasn’t really on the
Western theater of the war. It was the Pacific theater that kept my
attention. As the daughter of a
Marine and granddaughter of a Sailor
growing up hearing the history of the US Navy and the Marine Corp it lead me to
study the parts of WWII that the Navy and the Marines played the biggest role
in.
Everyone pictures Iwo Jima as the
picture of the flag raising but not everyone understands that the battle the
Marines faced to get to that point was horrific.
I think the one thing that really
got me into Pacific WWII history was visiting the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial
park in Mobile Alabama. The battleship is set up like it would have been during
WWII and you can tour the majority of the ship. The sailors worked daily on the
ship while the Marines were pretty much squeezed in like Sardines as the were
transported from their bases to the Islands of the South Pacific.
About the Book
December 31, 1941.
Young Houston socialite Tracy Truworth, Apprentice P.I., can’t imagine a better
way to send off the old year and ring in the new than by dancing through the
night with her fella, Pete Stalwart. But a swell evening soon takes a terrible
turn when a fellow dancer with moves like Fred Astaire ends up dead on the
dance floor. And before the hands on the clock can point to midnight, a finger
is pointed at Pete, accusing him of murdering the young man.
Then after Pete is hauled away in handcuffs, the night goes from bad to worse . . . and Tracy’s sweet grandmother is accused of stealing an ancient artifact from the museum. Now Tracy must team up with her boss and mentor, Sammy Falcone, in order to find the stolen statuette, unmask the real murderer, and restore the reputations of those she loves the most.
Yet as America becomes embroiled in another world war, the risks and sacrifices intensify—even on the homefront. And Tracy soon finds her own home invaded by a near parade of questionable characters, while unsavory suspects lurk in the shadows, and a ruthless reporter makes her life miserable. With time ticking against her, Tracy must be willing to swing past the setbacks and hop through the hazards if she hopes to solve a mystery that involves a lot of dancing . . . and a lot more danger.
Then after Pete is hauled away in handcuffs, the night goes from bad to worse . . . and Tracy’s sweet grandmother is accused of stealing an ancient artifact from the museum. Now Tracy must team up with her boss and mentor, Sammy Falcone, in order to find the stolen statuette, unmask the real murderer, and restore the reputations of those she loves the most.
Yet as America becomes embroiled in another world war, the risks and sacrifices intensify—even on the homefront. And Tracy soon finds her own home invaded by a near parade of questionable characters, while unsavory suspects lurk in the shadows, and a ruthless reporter makes her life miserable. With time ticking against her, Tracy must be willing to swing past the setbacks and hop through the hazards if she hopes to solve a mystery that involves a lot of dancing . . . and a lot more danger.
Author Bio
CINDY VINCENT, M.A. Ed., was born in Calgary,
Alberta, and has lived all around the US and Canada. She is the creator of the
Mysteries by Vincent murder mystery party games and the Daisy Diamond Detective
Series games for girls. She is also the award-winning author of the Buckley and
Bogey Cat Detective Caper novels and the Daisy Diamond Detective series. She
lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and an assortment of fantastic
felines.
Giveaway!
Time to get “in the
mood” with a fun 1940s-themed giveaway! Use the Rafflecopter form below to
enter for a chance to win a pewter ornament from The National WWII Museum, a
Glenn Miller CD, and paperback copies of the first two books in the Tracy
Truworth series: Bad Day for a Bombshell
and Swell Time for a Swing Dance. Due
to shipping costs and varying international laws, this giveaway is open to US residents (age 18 or older) only.
Good luck!
[Bloggers, you can find the embed code for the giveaway by
clicking the link below!]
[If the embed code doesn’t work for you, please direct
readers to enter via the host blog or the link below. Thank you!]
Thank you, Carissa, for hosting me here today! Thank you also for sharing about your father and grandfather. I agree, in the last few decades, WWII in the Pacific theater hasn't been acknowledged like it should have been. And many people today have no idea that Hirohito was every bit as cruel as his counterpart, Hitler. Plus, the Marines and Navy crews suffered through horrible conditions while fighting in the Pacific. So I appreciate your helping to keep the stories of these brave people alive!
ReplyDeleteAnd, if you haven't done so already, I truly suggest going to visit the Nation WWII Museum in New Orleans. Here's a link to their Pacific Theater galleries. I think you'd find this entire section of the museum to be very well done.
Last of all, I love the picture of your kitty! I have one who looks a lot like her, and she's a real character!