P.K. Pinkerton and the Pistol-Packing Widows - Softcover

Caroline Lawrence (www.caraolinelawrence.com) grew up in Bakersfield, California, and claims that some of her ancestors were pioneers, teamsters and newspapermen. Caroline moved to England to study classics at Cambridge. After a decade of immersing herself in Roman history to write the Roman Mysteries series, Caroline is now mining the rich vein of American history during the tumultuous 1860s. She currently lives in London by the river with her history-loving husband, who did the illustrations for this book. Follow her on Twitter @CarolineLawrenc

In the third P. K. Pinkerton title, business is booming for 12-year-old detective P. K. in 1862 Virginia City. Things take an unexpected turn when P. K. is kidnapped and then hired by mysterious Opal Blossom to go to Carson City and investigate whether her fiancé, “Poker Face” Jace, who is also P. K.’s mentor, is two-timing her. There, amidst the political wheeling and dealing around Nevada’s impending statehood, P. K. discovers the woman Jace is courting. Violetta De Baskerville isn’t as she appears, and Jace’s life may be in danger, but P. K., a master of disguises, has secrets, too; and protecting them—and Jace—means deciding whom to trust and what to reveal before it’s too late. The Wild West setting again comes alive through colorful characters—both new and returning allies and foes, abundant period detail, and the ever-engaging, P. K., a half Sioux loner whose colloquial, lively account also incorporates issues from facing prejudice and past tragedy to finding the meaning of friendship, self-acceptance, and acceptance by others. A don’t-miss for series followers, who’ll enjoy learning more about P. K.’s history—and possible future—in this humorous, suspenseful, ultimately heartfelt tale. Grades 4-7. --Shelle Rosenfeld