To Thine Own Self Be True

by Judy Clemens

Overview

"A story as unique as a crazy quilt and just as warm."—William Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling author

Stella Crown rarely takes a break from managing her Pennsylvania dairy farm unless it's to take a spin on her Harley. But in the midst of the Christmas season she treats herself to a new tattoo. Halfway through the sitting at Wolf Ink, her tattoo artist and his wife, Mandy, disappear into the back room and Stella dozes off. When she awakes, annoyed to realize they've not come back, she drives home. Before long the police arrive to inform her that Mandy has been discovered dead—knocked out and left to freeze behind the tattoo parlor. And Wolf is nowhere to be found.

With the help of another tattoo artist and an old flame who's arrived at the farm, Stella sets out to assist in the search for the missing Wolf, and dives into the world of tattooing, where she finds not only a close-knit and knowledgeable community, but also its underworld of back alley hacks, stolen designs, and violent patrons.

Stella, wiser now, knows that to be true to herself, she must first do everything in her power to get Wolf back where he belongs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781615950294
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	05/27/2011
Series:	Stella Crown Series , #3
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	643 KB

About the Author

Judy Clemens spends her days in rural Ohio, where she writes, spends time with her family, and eats too much chocolate. She is the author of the Grim Reaper and Stella Crown mysteries, and is a past president of Sisters in Crime.

Judy Clemens spends her days in rural Ohio, where she writes, spends time with her family, and eats too much chocolate. She is the author of the Grim Reaper and Stella Crown mysteries, and is a past president of Sisters in Crime.

Editorial Reviews

Bikers and tattoos have something of an image problem, but Clemens's fun and surprising third Stella Crown mystery (after 2005's Three Can Keep a Secret) goes a long way toward improving that image. Shortly before Christmas, Stella, a Harley-riding Pennsylvania dairy farmer, is getting a new tattoo at Wolf Ink, when the tattoo artist, Wolf, interrupts their session and takes off with his wife, Mandy. Stella falls asleep, and later leaves in a huff with only half a tattoo. Then the cops show up at Stella's door to report that Mandy has been found outside the tattoo parlor, frozen to death after being hit on the head. Wolf, who has disappeared, is the chief suspect in the murder, but the net expands to include shady fringe tattooists (who ink underage kids and "forget" to change needles) and legislators who wish to close down the whole industry for the sins of a few. As Clemens waxes poetic about tattoos, readers will view this subculture in a brand new light. (Aug.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

While Stella Crown is getting a new tattoo, her tattoo artist is called into the back room by his wife, Mandy. Exhausted from managing her Pennyslvania dairy farm, Stella falls asleep. When she wakes up, the tattoo parlor is empty, so Stella goes home. Later that evening the police arrive to tell her that Mandy is dead, and Wolf, the tattoo artist, is missing. Describing the polar opposite worlds of the tattoo parlor and dairy farm, Clemens writes about a woman comfortable in both but unable to handle her own emotions. If only caring about people were as easy for Stella as riding a Harley or hooking up a milking machine. Featuring fast-paced prose and well-drawn characters who are mostly good people who help each other, Clemens's mystery also paints a complete picture of the hard work that goes into farming while educating the reader on the rules and regulations governing the tattoo business. The third entry in Clemens's Stella Crown series (after the Agatha Award-winning Till the Cows Come Home, 2004, and Three Can Keep a Secret, 2005) won't disappoint fans of the first two books. Strongly recommended. Clemens lives in Ohio. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal