Category: 4 Star

I am delighted to have Bart Gilbertson here today to talk about his new mystery, Deathbed & Breakfast. This one takes place in Oregon and is a very fun read.

SSR – Sustained Silent Reading

When I was in the 4th Grade, our teacher, Mrs. Parks, would read to the entire class from a book for about 30 minutes or so every day after our lunch break.  Some of us would put our heads down on the desk, others would just lean back in their chairs, and still others would get out a piece of paper and draw doodles while she would read to us.  We learned how to eat a fried worm, solve mysteries (thanks to Encyclopedia Brown), and how to herd cattle and horses according to a ranch boy called “Little Britches.” It was in this way that I really found a love for books.  I especially loved it when she read “Where The Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls.  That was the one book that lit a fire inside of me and made me want to become a writer myself someday.

Towards the end of that school year, my parents relocated us to a neighboring town about 11 miles away and I had to finish 4th Grade with a new teacher, Mrs. Beasley.  What I really liked about Mrs. Beasley’s class, was that she had rotating book shelves filled with paperback books about all sorts of things.  It was in this class that two new traditions started for me.

The first tradition took place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  It was something we did for about 45 minutes every afternoon that Mrs. Beasley called “SSR.”  It stood for “Sustained Silent Reading.”  All of us kids would go over and pick out a book off the rotating racks, or get out something we’d brought from home.  Then, we’d just read to ourselves…silently.  I know most of the kids really looked forward to these days.  I was one of them.  I loved SSR time.  So much so, that I still have SSR time.  It isn’t quite as often as it used to be with the added responsibilities of adulthood, but it is still important.

The second tradition was that, everywhere I went, I carried a book with me.  I don’t mean required reading or school text books.  Some sort of fiction.  In between the lectures and school work, I could always be found reading a book.  This is something that has also followed me down through the years.  I knew early on in life, that I wanted my own books out there for others to carry with them and read when they could.

I believe we all need some SSR time.  Television, movies, music, even video games…they all have a place in our lives.  So does reading – sustained silent reading.  With no music playing, no television going off in the background; just you, your book, and your imagination.

It thrilled me to watch my daughter as she grew up and see how much she loved to read books as well.  Her bookshelves are full of books, and she’s read them all.  She was happier receiving a book as a gift than a movie or a video game.  There is nothing quite like the twinkle in a young person’s eyes as they delve into a captivating story on the high seas, or a mystery.

My book, “Deathbed & Breakfast,” tries to capture that same magical feeling of a good mystery.  A fun and humorous read, it will keep you guessing as you move forward to the killer’s identity at the end.  Put aside some time for it as you enjoy a little SSR!

About the Author:

Bart J. Gilbertson is the author of the Pookotz Sisters Mystery Series. Although he was born in Wisconsin, he spent most of his youth and later years in the rocky mountain state of Idaho. He has been all over the northwest and it is his love for the lush green state of Oregon that inspired the setting for Pleasant Lake and its inhabitants. He attended ITT Technical Institute in Boise, ID and received an Associate in Applied Science Degree for Computer Networking Systems and graduated with honors. Bart has worn many hats over his lifetime career, but the one he is most proud of is that of being a writer. He currently resides in O’Neill, NE. He has two children.

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Richard Forester, a retired CEO for a major software company, and his granddaughter Penny show up at the Pookotz Bed & Breakfast one evening and find themselves in some rather unpleasant company. All the guests somehow seem to be connected to Richard’s past and when he is found dead the next morning, everyone is suspect. However, there are a few wrinkles that the inn’s owners Edna and Mildred Pookotz need to iron out as the investigation unfolds. Not only was Richard deathly ill, but he was also accused of embezzling $750,000 which is still unaccounted for. The local Sheriff suspects that this victim’s death is not a natural one, so he–and the sisters–set forth to discover who the murderer is.

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of Deathbed & Breakfast

Review (4.0 Stars): I am always looking for new authors and I really enjoyed Mr. Gilbertson’s new book, Deathbed & Breakfast.  I loved the fact that the Pookotz Bed & Breakfast was set in Oregon which added to the charm of this delightful mystery.  The mystery was well-written and fast-paced which caused me to spend half the night reading it just to try to figure out who the killer was.  I loved the Pookotz sisters because they were such interesting characters and I loved their old-fashioned ways.

The supporting characters in this mystery are what really make this book fun.  Felix, the elderly chef who can’t hear and can barely see had some hilarious scenes in this book as well as the other quirky guests that were staying at the bed & breakfast.  This was an enjoyable mystery with a lovely cast of characters that I can’t wait to visit again.