Bishop, Oklahoma – Present Day

Jancy Dewhurst is a reporter for the Bishop Clarion. When she hears that there has been a murder on the Choctaw Gambler, she covers the story with State Bureau of Investigation Agent Jim Wills. She and Jim are strongly attracted to each other, but Jancy is determined to follow her goal of an assignment to an overseas bureau. At this time, romance is secondary to her plans, but he is temptation plus.

The Choctaw Gambler is a four-deck paddle ship, permanently anchored and privately owned. Jancy hears that a croupier who looks very much like the owner of the vessel, Jessie Chase, was shot. Although there were thirty waiters working aboard, only twenty-seven had signed in for duty, so the conjecture is that the murderer had posed as a waiter in order to shoot the owner. Later that day, someone shoots at Jessie Chase to prove the theory.

Jancy and Jim interview Lisa, Jessie Chase’s daughter. Lisa tells them that G. C. Gideon owes a lot of gambling money, and it was rumored that he made threats against Lisa’s father. Could he be the murderer? When Jancy visits G. C.’s elderly father to get information about a bankruptcy rumor, the drunken G. C. is so angry that he tries to talk his bodyguard into killing Jancy, but a few days later G. C. Is killed. Jancy and Jim cannot figure out what is going on and who the killer could be.

As the investigation moves forward, Jancy finds it difficult to refuse the handsome Jim, even though she constantly reminds herself of her goal. Will Jancy give up her plans and settle down with the delectable Jim? And will Jim be able to protect Jancy as a murderer moves closer?

Written in first person, MURDER ABOARD THE CHOCTAW GAMBLER has more romance than suspense. Jim is a delightful character -- he is protective, romantic, and usually has a smile on his face. Jancy is a determined young woman who wants a career, is serious about being a good reporter, but who also cannot resist the handsome agent who so doggedly pursues her. Secondary characters play smaller roles, with the focus staying on Jancy and Jim.

MURDER ABOARD THE CHOCTAW GAMBLER is the second book in the Jancy Dewhurst mysteries. It is a sweet romance and an atypical murder mystery with an exciting conclusion. It is well written with good dialogue, a warm tale, and a good choice for readers’ spring reading.

Marilyn Heyman