Tag Archives: Jill Traynor

Drummond Island, Michigan

So I spent some time on Drummond Island (in Michigan just off the east side of the upper peninsula) a few weeks ago. You can see a better perspective of where this is by checking out this map. Note the solid line that zig-zags around it, that’s the Canadian international border. You have to take a ferry (from DeTour on the Michigan Upper Peninsula side) to get over to the island, it was great both times, didn’t have to wait for the next ferry (only once and hour) although we just made the ferry and I had to part at a 45 degree angle to fit! But at least I didn’t have to wait an extra hour. Since there is only one ferry you only have to pay to go there, there ride back is free.

Drummond-DetourI’ve been there before but only when it was very cold. It was beautiful weather the whole time, it was great to bicycle around. The stars were so clear and I had an excellent view of the Perseids Meteor shower.

The internet access was lacking though. They offer hi-speed free wireless at the chamber of commerce but the DSL was down for the whole weekend, , I was starting to get the shakes!!! FYI, the Chamber of Commerce is kind of the Visitor’s Center and is located at “The Four Corners”, everyone knows that’s the intersection with both the blinking red-light and a stop sign :) Continue reading

Stowaway – by D. Ann Kelley and James G. Kelley – Review

I just finished reading Stowaway by D. Ann Kelley and James G. Kelley (and I happen to know the authors). Most of it takes place in Michigan, it’s kinda part of a series but it’s by far the best one yet so I’d definitely recommend this one first. It might reveal a few details from the first few books but it’s the most polished and fast read of any of the stories. The endings still end kinda quick though.

Jill Traynor returns as the main character (after the first book they started adding “A Jill Traynor Mystery” as the subtitle. One of the new characters chooses the Edumund Fitgerald as the ship to sneak onto, I think we all know how that’s likely to end. But the whole mystery revolves around the message they managed to get off the ship that reveals where the ________ is/are located. It’s got a bit of historical fact weaved in (and they clarify the details in the afterward). If you’re from Michigan or the Great Lakes area and like mysteries it’s a must read.

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Lighthouse Paradox – a novel

I know, I never review books enough, even when I mention I’m reading them I forget to post info later…

I know the folks who wrote this one so I was a little more motivated. It takes place on Drummond Island off the east coast of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The authors grew up there and one of them still lives there. I was at D. Ann’s place this weekend and noticed the framed picture in the living room (which has been there for at least a year) was a larger landscape version of picture that they had commissioned for the cover of the book. I’ve seen this a bunch of times and I just finally made the connection. But I digress…

My biggest problem (in talking about books) is telling enough but not giving the story away. It’s an historically accurate portrayal of life on the Island, life is different there than it is on the mainland. It’s a small-town people story, with some romance, a mystery and even a UFO all wrapped up into one story. It spans 60 years with several families stories intertwined as they try to figure out al the connections…

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