South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
Small-town sheriff faces personal crisis; rocker turns amateur sleuth
By Oline H. Cogdill
Under the guise of a gripping police procedural, Wiley Cash delivers a searing emotional story about a father and daughter, each at a crossroads in their lives, dealing with grief, loss and unwelcome change. In addition to family issues, “When Ghosts Come Home” also weaves in racism, politics, entitlement and unscrupulous development in a thrilling mystery set in 1984.
For the past 15 years, Winston Barnes has been the much-respected sheriff of Oak Island, located on the coast of North Carolina. It’s a job he thought he would have as long as he wanted, but now he is facing his first real opponent — Bradley Frye, a wealthy racist developer whose influence seeps throughout the town and even among Winston’s own deputies.
Winston’s daughter, Colleen, is dealing with a different loss. Her baby died at birth and she is inconsolable. She’s returned from Texas to consider her marriage and law career that she had put on hold. Winston feels powerless to help Colleen or his wife, Marie, who has cancer.
The plot kicks in when a WWII airplane crash lands at the small airport in the middle of the night. There’s no pilot, fingerprints or cargo, but nearby is the body of Rodney Bellamy, the son of the area’s leading civil rights activist.
Bradley seizes on the crime to further discredit Winston, especially when the FBI shows up, and paint
Rodney as a criminal. Bradley and his buddies revel in racial violence — “angry boys who’d grown into wealthy men.” Tensions further fray when Bradley’s friends threaten Rodney’s widow, and their Black community, which was built on prime land.
Cash keeps the focus on his richly drawn characters while making the action relevant to the happenings of a small town. Colleen’s fond memories of her parents, including a couple of poignant instances with her father, help her to heal and learn how to deal with her pain. Winston’s realization that some of his staff don’t share his commitment to racial relations and justice changes him.
Wiley’s four novels have proven him to be an author to watch. “When Ghosts Come Home” continues his high standards.
Rocker turns sleuth
Fame can be fleeting, gone in a blink before it can be appreciated. Gal Raver, the heroine of the Clea Simon’s solid “Hold Me Down,” had her share of fame when she was the lead singer and main draw in a women’s rock group. But that was 20 years ago, and she misses that thrill, that power of mesmerizing a sold-out crowd.
At the height of her success, Gal was “fearless” on stage — “a panther. Juiced as her amp, and twice as loud.” The varnish on her favorite guitar is worn but “her history is in that blonde and battered wood.” Rock was good to her, and, thanks to her accountant, she lives quite comfortably.
Gal and her former bandmates are in Boston for a reunion concert to benefit the family of her late drummer, who also was her best friend. During the concert, she freezes while singing their signature song, “Hold Me Down,” believing she’s spotted a former acquaintance in the crowd. The next day, a friend of Gal’s is accused of murdering the man. To prove her friend’s innocence, she turns from rocker to amateur sleuth.
Simon, a former rock critic and the author of more than two dozen mysteries, perceptively illustrates the sacrifices one makes for art. Gal’s memories are tinged with the pain of lost relationships, betrayals by promoters and managers, but also the joy of performing.
Simon’s tour of the Boston music scene will make readers wish “Hold Me Down” included a link to iTunes.
Zoom with the author
Clea Simon (“Hold Me Down”) will discuss “The Dark Side of Fame” and show how to weave motive, emotion and backstory in writing about performing arts during the Sept. 18 virtual meeting of the Mystery Writers of America, Florida chapter. The event begins at 12:15 p.m. and is free. To register and receive the zoom link, visit