Title: The Tangled Web
Author: Phyllis Falls Rogers
Publisher: AuthorHouse
IBSN: 978-1467834117
Pages: 264
Genres: Mystery

Reviewed by: Lisa Brown-Gilbert

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With heightened character development of unique qualities, along with a sense of suspense interleaved much better than average murder mysteries, author Phyllis Falls Rogers’ The Tangled Web proffers mystery lovers a nicely devised and deeply entangled mystery that combines empathetic, well-developed characters each with their intricate perspectives of life, as they handle the psychological aftermath of a small town murder which opens themselves up to revealing their own best of times, and worse of times.

As the story begins, what appears to be a death from natural causes turns out to be oddly more than what one would expect. The mystery starts when Hank Jasper, the known-to-all richest man in the small, quiet town of Bibly, is found dead inside a local church. As clues and evidence are uncovered by the local authorities, Police Chief Mack Schofield and his assistant Chief Investigator Sid Maxton, piece together the scenario that Hank Jasper must have been the victim of a cold blooded murder. Trying to resolve a crime with no clear motive nor persons of interest, they knew the solution needed to be found quickly. Schofield and Maxton must work their way through a growing, tangled web of deceit, lies, greed, lust and innocence in a race against time as the two have to quickly get to the truth, because all of a sudden, another person is viciously attacked.

Meanwhile, as the wily investigators dig deeper for answers as to why someone would want to kill Hank Jasper, they open a virtual Pandora’s Box of long hidden secrets coming to the forefront involving multiple townspeople. As secrets abound and feelings emerge, strangers, friends, neighbors and acquaintances are forced to confront issues and emotions lurking in their past that haunt their present.

As a debut novelist, Author Rogers does a good job at presenting an earthy, and albeit emotion packed story that touches the heart, as well as tweaks the nerves, as you follow her realistic characters in this personality driven read. Although this is a mystery genre read, there is a psychological aspect that stands out as it comes across as a story that is more about unraveling the mystery of human nature than it is about the twists and turns of a murder mystery. However, both elements are well done in the book, which makes The Tangled Web an engaging and very worthy read.

Overall, I enjoyed The Tangled Web because of the fresh writing style and quick pace. I found it to be a well-done and thoughtful narrative that housed intriguing characters, a well spun mystery and a heart-felt touch of humanity. I certainly recommend this book for anyone looking for a good mystery story – as this is definitely one for the personal library. It has made me an instant fan of Phyllis Falls Rogers’ writing skills, and I hope to see more from her in the future.

In the sleepy little town of Bibly, life never happens in a vacuum. Nor does death. When the body of the richest man in town was found in Reverend Brewster’s church, his death was thought to be from natural causes. Hank Jasper was murdered, however, and the investigation into his death leads to the disruption of more than just one family. Hank’s death touched the lives of others in ways both good and bad. Secrets would never have been revealed and lives would never have changed, but for the way this one man died. In order to find the murderer, Police Chief Mack Schofield has to untangle twisted relationships without revealing Hank’s secrets too soon, or to the wrong people. Lilly, Tommy and Sam all have to come to terms with the knowledge of the real role Hank Jasper played in their lives.
Phyllis Rogers has always had an interest in writing and storytelling and has often told stories in libraries, schools and club groups. She obtained her teaching certification in 1989 at Kentucky State University with minors in History and English. She obtained her BSN degree from Berea College in 1971, is a registered nurse and lives in Frankfort, Kentucky with her husband, Peter. They have two grown children and three grandchildren. The Tangled Web is her first novel.