Image Unavailable

Image not available for
Color:

To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

C. A. Asbrey

Follow

Innocent Bystander (The Innocents Mystery Series) Paperback – November 6, 2018

by C. A. Asbrey (Author)

4.7 31 ratings

See all formats and editions

Pinkerton Agent Abigail MacKay’s willful sister, Madeleine, is going to be the death of her yet. That is, if Madeleine doesn’t get herself killed first! After running off to marry a widower whose wives mysteriously die—leaving behind a great deal of money each time—spoiled, beautiful Madeleine is unaware of the danger she’s in. Though no doctor has been able to establish a cause of death for any of the women, Abigail is sure they were murdered—and that her younger sister is going to be next. The only person who can help her save Maddie is the charismatic criminal, Nat Quinn—and Abi left him cooling his heels in jail at their last meeting.

As Fate would have it, Nat and his partner, Jake Conroy, were the last to see Madeleine before she disappeared. She happened to be on a train The Innocents held up—but she was alive and well when they parted ways. And Madeleine is the least of Nat’s worries, now that he’s discovered that Abigail has lied to him about one very important thing—she’s married!

When Abi risks all to ride into the outlaws’ deadly hideout and ask for help, there’s no doubt she’ll get it—but nothing’s free in Ghost Canyon; here, everything has a price. With a new understanding in their relationship, Nat agrees to help her prove David Bartholemew is a cold-blooded killer before he can murder Maddie.

With Jake in charge of Madeleine’s welfare, all hell breaks loose when two competing reporters get involved in the case, along with an old nemesis of Nat’s coming into the mix. One thing is certain: David Bartholemew is a murderer. But how is he doing it? In a race against time, will Nat and Abi be able to figure it out before Jake runs out of ways to protect Maddie from her evil husband? Or will each of them become an INNOCENT BYSTANDER?

Print length

289 pages
Language

English
Publication date

November 6, 2018
Dimensions

5.25 x 0.66 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

1728865301
ISBN-13

978-1728865300
See all details

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (November 6, 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 289 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1728865301
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1728865300
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.66 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #8,528,936 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #38,912 in Historical Mystery
- #98,417 in Women Sleuths (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.7 31 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

C. A. Asbrey

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

C.A.Asbrey developed a deep interest in early forensics and detection methods working in the field. She researched early detectives and the tools available to them for years before developing her characters. They are compelling versions of real people, all her crimes are based on fictionalized versions of real crimes, and the methods used to solve them were available to detectives at the time. She likes her mysteries twisty, complex, and intricate; through a fog of history and a touch of light humor.

She is a writer of mysteries and a fan of all things Victorian and obscure, topped off with interest in early forensics, science, music, jaywalking, ordering the best meal at the table in a restaurant and dropping out of society to do whatever she wants. She enjoys an eclectic mix of the old and new, foreign and obscure, funny and dramatic, so includes these elements in her writing.

She loves finding gadgets which were invented earlier than popular wisdom accepts, especially when they involve the spying and scientific techniques of the of the past. If you are looking for historically accurate mysteries with laced with vivid characterizations, romance, and compelling plots, these are the books for you.

Innocent Minds, the 5th in the series, is now available. The last book will be released in July 2020.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5

31 global ratings

3 star

0%

2 star

6%

1 star

0%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Kerry L. Reis

Complex Wild West Thrilling Mystery with Romance and Family Drama

Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2021

Verified Purchase

In the 1870s, Nate Quinn and his uncle, Jake, are leading their criminal gang in a Wyoming train robbery, when Nate sees a young lady who looks like a Pinkerton Detective agent, Abigail MacKay, with whom he and Jake have had a couple of experiences with in the past. The young lady turns out to be Abigail’s sister, who has run away from her wealthy family home to marry a man in San Francisco. Abigail, back in the Pinkerton office, has requested time off to track down his sister, and during her initial document investigation, she has determined that her sister’s beau is a man who has married under different identities a few other wealthy women who mysteriously died shortly after the marriage. Abigail also finds a newspaper article that identifies Madeline being on a train robbed by the Innocents. She decides to head west and connect convertly with Nate and his uncle to help her find and protect her sister, while trying to uncover how the man Madeline is about to marry murdered his past wives. This was a very interestingly complex tale of murder mystery, family drama, and a tricky relationship between law and criminal relationships within a historical Wild West perspective. The complicated characters were interesting in their relationships, and the thrilling twists were very engrossing.

Helpful

Cynthia Hamilton

Outstanding detective series!

Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2018

Verified Purchase

Having read the first book in this series - THE INNOCENTS - I got so excited when I saw a post on Twitter for this installment. I downloaded it and read about 20% before I discovered this is the third book in the series, not the second. As I told the author in a tweet, there was no turning back at that point - I was completely hooked, and nothing was going to tear me away from such a grab-you-by-the-throat compelling book! The author assured me that even though the books were out of order, it was okay; she included enough backstory so that I wasn't missing out on anything integral to the series.

The fact that I raced through book three - INNOCENT BYSTANDER - and dove immediately into book two - INNOCENT AS SIN - is a pretty clear indication of how hooked I am on this author and this incredible, mesmerizing series. I know I'm not alone when it comes to appreciating well-researched literature. Just because it's fiction doesn't mean that I'll swallow half-baked, nonsensical and implausible storylines. Not only does this author know what she writes about inside-out and backwards, she's a Scotswoman writing about the Pinkerton operations in America in the mid-1800s - and she nails it. But it's her style and the banter between her characters - the lady Pinkerton agent and the charismatic outlaws - that really give these works their sizzle. The plots are crazy, full of twists and nonstop action. But there are also many tender, soul-searching moments that only add to the gravitas of this body of work.

I'm about halfway through the second book and I still haven't found out if there is a fourth in the works. If I wasn't already a book junkie, I would blame the very talented C.A. Asbrey for getting me hooked!

Helpful

Okie

A crime tale beyond the normal who-dun-it

Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2019

Verified Purchase

This book takes place in a time period in which the author's historical accuracy has to be on point, and C.S. Asbrey's is. Populated by three unusual main characters - two who are known bad boys who exhibit unexpected and charming thoughtfulness and caring in their actions, and one who is an extraordinarily well-educated, logical, practical and highly, highly skilled woman detective - we are carried along in their story as they walk, or ride on horses or in carriages, down their path into the almost-unknown world in that day of highly analytical science. As the science is explained to us we, as readers, grow hungry for each new scientific detail revealed to us in the discovery process of deducing the murderer's bizarre and cruel methodology. This book is an unusual mind-bender for sure. Get it because you will enjoy it from start to finish and will be smarter in science by the end. -------- Jill E.

Helpful

Catherine Siemann

Another stellar entry in a new favorite series!

Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2018

Verified Purchase

From the opening moments, when notorious outlaw Nat Quinn is so distracted by seeing someone he thinks is Pinkerton agent Abigail Mackay in the distance that he momentarily forgets he's in the middle of robbing a train, readers can tell they're in for a thoroughly enjoyable ride. Abi's spoiled younger sister has run off to marry a man whom Abi suspects of being a Bluebeard-style serial killer, and she turns to her on again, off again antagonists & allies, Nat Quinn and Jake Conroy just for some eyewitness information -- and of course gets more than she bargained for. Character development continues for all three, and we get a solid and enjoyable story which employs nineteenth-century forensics, clever disguises, and romance. It all ended too soon, but a review on Asbrey's publisher's blog tells us there's more to come for the trio. I, for one, can't wait!

Helpful

Amazon Customer

I wanted a great story and I got one.

Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2018

Verified Purchase

Gin16. This book is every bit as good as the first two. I like these two outlaws and Nat has certainly met his match with Abigail, what a pair. He does have a way with words, his uncle, Jake while he does listen to Nat, he does give him what for when he deserves it. Loved Nat's comment "you like like s..t" and Jakes comeback "better than bein' a s..t. I would love to read more, but if this is it, it was a great ending.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

HM Holten

Are Bystanders always Innocent?

Reviewed in Germany on April 12, 2019

Verified Purchase

There’s much to like and admire in Asbrey’s book. Her heroine is well drawn and believable. Even her criminal love-interest and — assistant evokes sympathy. More than that, her writing and plot arch works, she keeps the readers on their toes. The Western setting, the female Pinkerton and heroine doesn’t go through the motions but investigates every option until she reaches the inevitable conclusion. The technical and forensic part of the book is clear and convincing. Ms Asbrey adds the love-story with little strokes that develops the picture throughout the book. Lifelike characters and no-nonsense actions combined with unexpected twists keep the readers’ interest captivated from start to finish. A well-researched and enjoyable read.

Mrs. J

You won't want to put it down!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 1, 2018

Verified Purchase

This is the third book in the Innocents Series and it’s every bit as good and addictive as the previous two. Abigail is on a personal mission this time, to save her sister from a murderer. Of course, Nat and Jake have to get involved, in spite of being the two most wanted men in America, and throw in Madeleine, Abigail’s sister, so different to Abi, and you have the perfect recipe for a set of calamities, some humorous, some serious, that have to be dealt with. Throw in a murderer who kills leaving no trace of how it was done, making his victims appear as if they simply fell asleep in bed, and our clever author has the perfect opportunity to not only cause puzzlement but also to show us her amazing knowledge.
I love these characters; and the reader can’t help waiting with baited breath to see what will happen between them. I couldn’t put it down, I had to keep reading. In my opinion, this trio of stories are a real triumph. I can’t wait to see what C. A. Asbrey will come up with next.

Five stars from me again, and thank you for a great read, Ms Asbrey!

bevmac

Great Series

Reviewed in Australia on December 4, 2018

Verified Purchase

Love this series and this book lived up to the standard of the other 2. Highly recommend this book and if you haven't read the others do so, sure you will love them as much as I did.

Tulip

Excellent Thriller

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 18, 2018

Verified Purchase

If you haven't already read any of the Innocent books I strongly recommend you start at the beginning although each book in the series stands up and can be read as a one off I assure you that you do not want to miss a moment of this excellent series.

An unlikely alliance between the main characters is entertaining to watch unfold. The plot twists are exciting and the writers grasp of history and forensics of the time makes the stories fascinating and interesting to read.
A page turner that left me wanting more.

Mrs Average

Super Stuff

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 9, 2019

Verified Purchase

This series has just got better and better as we learn more about the unconventional characters and the mysteries they get caught in, I can't imagine what the next book will entail!

See more reviews