Bones of Contention: A Dinah Pelerin Mystery (Dinah Pelerin Mysteries Book 1)

Overview: Jeanne Matthews was born and raised in Georgia. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Journalism and has worked as a copywriter, a high school English and Drama teacher, and a paralegal.

 

The Top End of Australia is a land teeming with crocodiles, poisonous snakes, and curious Aboriginal myths.  It’s a strange place to choose to end one’s life, but that is what Dinah Pelerin’s wealthy American uncle has done.  Dying of cancer, he has summoned his entire family – current wife, ex-wife, assorted children and niece – to a remote, comfortless lodge where he intends to rewrite his will and commit suicide with the aid of a rogue Australian physician with whom he shares a mysterious history.

Dinah sees this time with her uncle as a last chance to learn the truth about her father, who died during the commission of a felony when she was a child.  But when she arrives, she discovers that the truth has more and darker ramifications than she’d bargained on.  Her artist brother thinks he’s possessed by the spirit of snake god who is moving his hand metaphysically across the canvas; her uncle, who isn’t really her uncle, is obsessed by a woman he married but could never possess; the rest of the family is seething with resentments; and a man none of them claims to know is murdered on a nearby island, impaled on the back of a sea turtle. 

A wannabe anthropologist with a passion for mythology, Dinah tries to sort out the complicated song lines of her own ancestors while struggling to understand Dreamtime and solve not one, but two bizarre murders.  The Aboriginal concept of payback law takes on a terrible new meaning.

 

The Top End Of Australia Is A Land Teeming With Crocodiles, Poisonous Snakes, And Curious Aboriginal Myths. It's A Strange Place To Choose To End One's Life, But That Is What Dinah Pelerin's Wealthy American Uncle Has Done. Dying Of Cancer, He Has Summoned His Entire Family – Current Wife, Ex-wife, Assorted Children And Niece – To A Remote, Comfortless Lodge Where He Intends To Rewrite His Will And Commit Suicide With The Aid Of A Rogue Australian Physician With Whom He Shares A Mysterious History. Dinah Sees This Time With Her Uncle As A Last Chance To Learn The Truth About Her Father, Who Died During The Commission Of A Felony When She Was A Child. But When She Arrives, She Discovers That The Truth Has More And Darker Ramifications Than She'd Bargained On. Her Artist Brother Thinks He's Possessed By The Spirit Of Snake God Who Is Moving His Hand Metaphysically Across The Canvas; Her Uncle, Who Isn't Really Her Uncle, Is Obsessed By A Woman He Married But Could Never Possess; The Rest Of The Family Is Seething With Resentments; And A Man None Of Them Claims To Know Is Murdered On A Nearby Island, Impaled On The Back Of A Sea Turtle. A Wannabe Anthropologist With A Passion For Mythology, Dinah Tries To Sort Out The Complicated Song Lines Of Her Own Ancestors While Struggling To Understand Dreamtime And Solve Not One, But Two Bizarre Murders. The Aboriginal Concept Of Payback Law Takes On A Terrible New Meaning. The Top End of Australia is teeming with crocodiles, poisonous snakes, and curious Aboriginal myths. It's a strange place to choose to end one's life, but that is what Dinah Pelerin's wealthy American uncle has done. Dying of cancer, he has summoned his entire family--current wife, ex-wife, assorted children and niece--to a remote, comfortless lodge where he intends to rewrite his will and commit suicide with the aid of a rogue Australian physician with whom he shares a mysterious history. Dinah sees this time with her uncle as a last chance to learn the truth about her father, who died during the commission of a felony when she was a child. But when she arrives, she discovers that the truth has darker ramifications. Her artist brother thinks he's possessed by the spirit of a snake god; her uncle is obsessed with a woman he married but could never possess; the rest of the family is seething with resentments; and a man none of them claims to know is murdered on a nearby island, impaled on the back of a sea turtle. A wannabe anthropologist with a passion for mythology, Dinah tries to sort out the complicated song lines of her own ancestors while struggling to solve not one, but two, bizarre murders He will take seventeen to the match - how many will he bring back? In Cibola football is a matter of life and death. Sir Tristram must reunite his Blood City teammates - Knights, Pirates and Westerners - to win the prestigious Seskie tournament against their oldest rivals. Behind the match is a bigger power play, a king's mission to bring down his greatest rival by persuasion, trickery or force. Needing a squad of soldiers as well as footballers, Sir Tristram must also find a place on tour and in his heart for the teenage child he has not addressed by name since infancy... Dinah Pelerin joins her extended family in a lodge in Queensland, Australia, to witness her wealthy American uncle's rewrite of his will before his assisted suicide and is met with two murders and the discovery that everything she believed true about her family is false A boy goes missing and is found dead in an arroyo, apparently killed in an ATV accident. But the discovery he made moments before he was killed is puzzling ... and takes deputies back to a five year old killing and has them looking for a murderer too close to home