Cape Wrath by Ted Olsen
Published: September 2023
Publisher: Story Road LLC
Genre: Historical Thriller
Available: ebook, paperback
Pages: 300

The Short Story: A dual time historical mystery with a dash of ghostly romance

My Review:

Actress Andrea Sinclair and Thomas McCallister, decorated naval officer turned lighthouse keeper, are in love. But Andrea loves the theater and Thomas seems determined to remain at the remote Cape Wrath lighthouse where he meets a brutal end. Years later, his American nephew Evan joins forces with Mary, an investigative reporter to solve the mystery of Thomas’ death and the mysterious presence that haunts the abandoned lighthouse.

Author Ted Olsen has crafted a complex dual time story with a cadre of interesting characters. Neither Andrea, daughter of a rich man nor Thomas, a man full of unspoken secrets, are who we think they are. Mary thinks she’s writing a story about Cape Wrath until she comes face-to-face with a ghostly apparition. Evan, whose mother was Thomas’ sister, is looking for answers about his family; little does he know what he’s in for.

I enjoyed the setting, the far north of Scotland, wild and rugged. I felt the loneliness of the lighthouse, the beauty of a summer day, the strength of a winter storm. The characters were complicated, slowly revealing who they are. The mystery of Thomas’ past was interesting and kept me guessing. I was a little disappointed at the ending but I think that was my fault as I wanted more from the story.
Not a ghost story in the traditional sense, this solid story should satisfy readers who enjoy a moody setting, a bit of the supernatural and a good mystery.… (plus d'informations)

Signalé

JeanRoberts | Dec 17, 2023 |

The Knoxville Sessions 1929-1930 par Ted Olson

This is a magnificent box set to complement Bear Family's Bristol and Johnson City boxes. Sound quality is as good as it gets on the 4 CDs, and the book itself is a masterpiece of research and presentation. I especially enoyed all the photos, and having label shots of the 78s. How nice to have helped on it with my Senior Chapel Quartette pair.

Signalé

Romis78 | May 3, 2016 |

The Bristol Sessions, 1927-1928: The Big Bang of… par Ted Olson

The "Bristol Sessions" were two sets of recording sessions held in Bristol, Tennessee, in 1927 and 1928. While country music wasn't "invented" there, these recordings of soulful, early "hillbilly" music let the town lay claim to be "the birthplace of country music." Two of the thirty-some acts became widely known -- The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers. Many years later, the Library of Congress' new National Recording Registry noted the Bristol Sessions as part of their 50 "most significant" sound recording events. In 2011, Bear Family Records reissued the surviving recordings on a set of 5 CDs, and included an accompanying book.

Most people buy this set for the CDs, and they have some great early works. Some of the songs share similar melodies; many work off the same theme (the death of a mother; an orphaned child). The accompanying book offers thumbnail sketches of the artists -- many of whom we really know nothing about -- and make a valiant attempt to print all the lyrics for the songs (including a few that would be seen as highly offensive today). Also included are the actual recording sheets (some with handwritten notes), and images of the original Victor records when they exist. It's a nice visual complement to the auditory main course.

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LT Haiku:

Some call Bristol the
Birthplace of Country Music;
This book tells us why.… (plus d'informations)