Dumping Grounds

Lila Beckham

Book 1 of Joshua Stokes Mysteries

Language: English

Published: Dec 27, 2013

Description:

Set in mid 1970s rural Alabama, Dumping Grounds tells the tale of Joshua Stokes, the charismatic sheriff of Mobile County who is known for his manners, strength, and old-fashioned approach and Emma Carr, a teenage loner from a dysfunctional family that has had its share of tragedy.
So far, Emma’s young life has been filled with disappointment. Finishing high school has been her greatest accomplishment.
Frustrated by her parent’s lifestyle and trying to decide what to do with her life, Emma gets a tattoo to celebrate her eighteenth birthday and then goes on a solo camping trip.
She witnesses a vicious murder, is captured, tortured, and nearly driven insane.

Visited by ghosts of the former Caledonia Plantations slaves and owners, aging County Sheriff, Joshua Eugene Stokes spends a great deal of his free time sitting on his porch drinking and reminiscing the past.
His passion for maintaining the pride and chivalry of the Old South make him a desirable lawman; however, the discovery of the mutilated, decapitated corpse of a young woman by a state worker, leads Joshua Stokes on the most challenging quest of his career.
The case forces him to question his beliefs, his integrity, and to recollect events in his life and career that have brought him to the present day. It also places his life in eminent danger, as unseen forces seem to work against his every move.
A tired, disillusioned Joshua must pull himself together if he is going to be able to save this young girls life.

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Review

Debra Powell of Alabama wrote - You are an amazing writer!!! I have read all you have released. She Walks the Night Winds, A Murder In Moffettville, Dumping Grounds and Beyond the Willow Tree. All of these are well written and enjoyable. They are different. One style is deeply rooted in family heritage and the other is filled with suspense. Thank you!!!!

From the Author

In the spring of 1970, an event occurred that would forever alter the lives of those involved. It also touched and altered the lives of their friends and kinfolk. Some of those effects bend and blend into other events and then before you know it all hell breaks loose.
Two years after writing A Murder in Moffettville, where I touched on one such event, the ghosts of those involved in that other event would find their way to me to tell me to write the rest of their story.
Dumping Grounds has been described as "An edge of your seat - One hell of a Read" book. A "Grab this book and kick back for a few hours of shivering bliss," book. The best "horror"ible time I've had since The Stand!" and "I was engrossed from the first page. It has everything, sex, murder, time travel, history, and suspense. I could not put it down. Can't wait for more from this author."