Monday, October 22, 2012

Meet Radine, author and handy-dandy cook


Radine Trees Nehring, who sets her novels and non-fiction articles in Arkansas, has collected at least 25 award certificates since 1992, beginning with an essay she entered in the Oklahoma Writers Federation annual contest.

She’s been honored with a key to one city, a key to a National Historic Site jail, two trophies … well, you get the picture. It’s no wonder that in 2011 the Arkansas Writers Conference chose her to be inducted into the Arkansas Writers Hall of Fame.

Well done, Radine, well done!

Radine is also a cook who does it the easy way. At least, that’s my impression after reading the handy-dandy recipes in JOURNEY TO DIE FOR, plus those on her web site. A recipe for No-thaw Hamburger Bake begins:Use approx. 1 lb lean hamburger, frozen in a lump, just as it came from the grocery store and went into your freezer.” Would you believe I have a lump of hamburger in my freezer, just waiting for a recipe like this to come along?

For that recipe and a handful of others, check out Radine’s web site:


JOURNEY TO DIE FOR by Radine Trees Nehring
Wolfmont Press, Paperback and Kindle 2010
Book # 6 in the To Die For series
Winner of 2010 Silver Falchion award at Killer Nashville

The gently told tales in this cozy series are set in the scenic Ozark Mountains and feature two older people for whom love is better the second time around. Carrie McCrite and Henry King, a retired policeman from Kansas City, have the best of intentions but still get caught up in other people’s problems, mayhem and murders.


This time Carrie and Henry board the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad’s historic excursion train for a trip to Van Buren, an Arkansas River town with a colorful past. Also on board is the host of a TV program, Exploring Arkansas, and his camera man. A three-hour stop in Van Buren is barely enough for Carrie, who wants to shop for antiques, and Henry, who wants to eat. They do both, but Carrie leaves Henry to linger over the “plate lunch” in a famous cafĂ© while she hikes along the river. When he finally catches up with her, she has discovered the body of a train passenger snagged in trash at the water’s edge.

Henry's law enforcement instincts kick in; he secures the scene and calls the cops.When Henry admits being retired from the Kansas City Police Department. Sgt. Burke of the Van Buren PD tells them that the victim was stabbed but probably drowned. The big question: who was he, and how did someone manage to meet and kill him within such a short span of time? Back on the train there’s a stunning development. The victim boards the train and takes a seat in front of Carrie. Since no passenger appears to be missing, the train is cleared for its return journey.

Once home, Carrie and Henry regale their four closest friends with tales of their adventure. When they watch the TV program filmed of their trip, Carrie realizes that the “victim” who re-boarded for the return trip was not the same man she found in the river. Obviously, someone brought in a ringer.

Henry is drawn into the case when he learns the dead man’s billfold held a driver’s license with a Kansas City address. With Carrie by his side, Henry is soon back in his old stomping ground, where the couple act unofficially to help the KCPD unmask a surprisingly dangerous criminal enterprise.

My favorite line comes when Carrie helps prepare questions for interviewing a possible suspect. Capt. Boinevich of the KCPD says, “Hope for the moon and be glad when you get a pinch of stardust.”

My thanks to the author for a copy of this book, and for the recipes at the end. I’m getting ready to make Henry’s Chocolate Cake in a Mug.

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Author photo from


FTC DISCLOSURE NOTICE
I don’t have the foggiest idea what this is all about, but I keep seeing it on other blogs, so here it is.
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FTC has a new regulation which went into effect in December, 2009 which says, basically, "Amateur Bloggers to Disclose Freebies or Be Fined." Here's my required FTC Disclosure Notice regarding review copies of books obtained for this blog. No other compensation is accepted beyond review copies of books. When I do write a review, or opinion, the source of the book cited will be disclosed in the post in which the review/opinion appears. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me.


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