About the Book
"I absolutely devoured this book! " Cynthia Williams
Laurel Falls, N.C. 1989: I couldn't believe I was in trouble again. I'd finally got what I'd always wanted ... then lost it.
The trouble started when this family-a mother and two almost-grown kids-came to my school, the Hickson School of American Studies in Boone, N.C., to ask for shelter. The mother said she was dying, and they had nowhere else to go after they'd been evicted 'cause she was too sick to work. What her son earned just wasn't enough to live on.
But that was all lies. They were just a bunch of mean-spirited, sorry con artists who stole our money and good intentions. And when they fleeced the school, they made it look like I did it! Next thing I knew, the director threw me outta school.
I snuck home to get help from my neighbor and friend, Della Kincaid. She used to be a crime reporter in Washington, D.C., and I knew she'd know what to do. She did--only she told me I had to do it alone.
Trying to find them again took everything I had-and then some. Along the way, I plowed through those mountains, sometimes meeting fellow victims who were yearning for justice too, but mostly tangling with bad men trying to stop me-permanently! I faced more twists and turns than the road to Damascus, Virginia.
There was no telling who I could trust on that long road to justice, but I ask you: at some point, don't you have to believe in something or someone? Abit Bradshaw
You'll enjoy this suspenseful mystery because who can resist rooting for the underdog?
If you love Louise Penny, Richard Osman, and Fern Michaels, you're sure to enjoy the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series.
Get it now--for the rich natural setting, colorful characters, and suspenseful investigations.
The Roads to Damascus is the second novel in the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series by award-winning author Lynda McDaniel.
Interview with the Author
Q: What's next for Abit and Della? What can readers expect?
A: In this book, I take Abit on a hero's journey, something he must do alone. Of course, Della helps him, especially at the beginning and end of the story. On his long road trip, he searches for the mother and two children who ripped him off, fleeced his beloved school, and laid the blame on him. He also experiences his first love--and heartache. Friendship, family secrets & lies, a touch of romance--they're all woven together into a suspenseful crime mystery.
"Though there's a crime plot that drives 'The Roads to Damascus' forward, at its heart it's very much a character piece & a coming of age tale." LizTiptoft
Q: In what order were these books written?
A:
A Life for a Life
The Roads to Damascus
Welcome the Little Children
Murder Ballad Blues
Deep in the Forest
Up the Creek
Unwrapped
Waiting for You (prequel offer)
About the Author :
I love writing page-turners--both fiction and nonfiction. And I love helping others to do the same, living into their dreams of writing books. I believe my success comes down to a respect for my readers and clients. I know I'm easily bored, so I work hard to engage and inspire my readers. After all, we're all busy these days, and I want to deliver value--whether that's a gripping mystery filled with memorable characters or books on writing that give you the tools to write your own fiction and nonfiction. Both make me happy. I got my start as a writer in the most unlikely place--a town of 200 people in the mountains of North Carolina. But living there changed my life in so many positive ways. Decades later, I realized that everything I value today, I was introduced to there. My Appalachian Mountain Mysteries--A Life for a Life, The Roads to Damascus, Welcome the Little Children, and Murder Ballad Blues--pay homage to the people of Appalachia who taught me so much. Over the years, I've written more than 1,200 articles for major magazines, hundreds of newsletters and blogs. I'm proudest of the 18 books I've written. My nonfiction books include Words at Work, How Not to Sound Stupid When You Write, and How to Write Stories that Sell--all part of my Write Faster Series. Since I moved to California 10 years ago, I've also enjoyed coaching clients who want to write their own books.
Review :
"WHAT A GREAT FOLLOW-UP TO A Life for a Life. After finishing [that] book, I longed to discover more about Abit and his new life away at school. I highly recommend this book." -Malena E., playwright and author
"A DELIGHTFUL DISCOVERY! Grabbed me from the first page. Pick up this novel; I dare you to put it down." -Dr. Irene Willis, poet and author of Reminder
"AFTER A LIFE FOR A LIFE I WAS EAGERLY ANTICIPATING THIS SEQUEL, and I was not disappointed. The suspense and plot twists were as riveting as before. The characters and relationships made the book so compelling." -Miles G.
LYNDA McDANIEL'S APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN MYSTERIES TRILOGY delivers page-turning drama without mounting body bags and over-the-top violence. Instead these books focus on inspiring, character-driven stories of suspense and relationships. Abit Bradshaw, in particular, has been stealing people's hearts since he debuted in 2016. "I JUST FINISHED THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS, having previously read A Life for a Life. Like delicious hors d'oeuvres, they left me panting for the next installment." -J. Porter
"I WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE THE WHOLE GANG BACK from A Life for a Life.The wonderful character, Abit, has been expanding his horizons, but this time the reader has a chance to see this special young man's coming of age." -Virginia McCullough, award-winning author of Amber Light and Greta's Grace
"JUST FINISHED THIS FANTASTIC BOOK. Lynda McDaniel has the gift of putting the reader right there in her stories with characters that grab ahold of your heart strings and take you into their world page after page. Do yourself a favor and join in this delightful, endearing story of Abit, Della & Alex." -Lori J.
"ABIT IS A GENTLE SOUL. I found it difficult to put the book down. It flowed so easily. ... Read this one. I think you'll fall for Abit."
"ONCE I STARTED THIS BOOK, I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN, and once again, it left me wanting more ... The characters are well drawn and totally engaging, but what is most captivating is the metaphysical thread that gently supports each character's journey of growth."
"THE SECOND NOVEL IN THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN MYSTERIES trilogy is a sweet and exciting coming-of-age story of Abit Bradshaw. We met and fell in love with him in A Life for a Life. Now Abit is challenged to explore a world he didn't know existed. Come along on Abit's adventure, it won't disappoint!"
