Dance on His Grave

By Sylvia Dickey Smith

Book Overview

Sidra Smart, fifty years old, is not your ordinary P.I. A recently divorced preacher?s wife, Sid knows next to nothing about running the private-detective business she?s inherited from her brother.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1603180060
• ISBN13: 9781603180061
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: L & L Dreamspell
• Length: 252 Pages
• Weight: 0.11 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.5" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Reviewed for Midwest Book Review

Sidra Smart is 51 years old and recently divorced from her preacher husband. When her brother dies in a motor vehicle accident, Sid, inherits his investigative firm, The Third Eye, in Orange, Texas. Sidra has no experience as an investigator and initially intends to sell the business but is intrigued by a young woman named Jewell, who claims her father murdered a woman 30 years before. Although Jewell was three when it happened, her memories are so intense, Sid can't help but wonder if they're real. She questions Jewell's sister, Emma, who corroborates much of what Jewell remembers. Emma and Jewell confide in Sid their father's cruelty, and both, along with their mother, are suffering mental and emotional sequelae as a result of his abuse. Sid contacts the sheriff of Orange, Texas with the information Jewell has provided, and shortly thereafter, her life is threatened. This makes Sid more determined than ever to bring justice upon the man who has severely damaged so many lives. But someone is intent on stopping her. Dance on his Grave is a strong start to the Third Eye series and is sure to develop a large reader base. Sid Smart is a compelling character; a woman who lived a sheltered life until she decided she wanted out of a controlling relationship and is now determined to start her life anew, despite antagonistic actions from members of her husband's parsonage. A female baby-boomer as a private eye is a fresh addition to the mystery genre, even more appealing, one with intelligence and maturity. Sid's Aunt Annie is a likeable, albeit quirky character, and Sid's mentor George Leger lends a colorful Cajun ambience to the story. This well-written mystery falls under the category of page-turner and will keep the reader entertained throughout.

Dance on His Grave

Following in the footsteps of the likes of Mary Higgins Clark and Phyllis A. Whitney, Sylvia spins a tale of suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat. It didn't take much past the first few lines for me to know that I would do nothing much except read this book in it's entirety for the next few hours. I have just come into possession of the second book in the series, and cannot wait to jump into it with both feet! Excellent read!

"Dance On His Grave" is an INTENSE read

After the sudden death of her brother Warren due to a traffic accident, Sidra Smart comes to the small southeast Texas town of Orange to permanently close his private investigator business. Recently divorced after thirty years of a mind numbing marriage, Sidra knows absolutely nothing about private investigations or running her brothers business with the intriguing moniker of "the Third Eye: Intuitive Investigations." While she isn't sure what she is going to do with her life she knows that she isn't going to take over and run Warren's business and she isn't going back to her old life as a preacher's wife. Somewhere during the course of that thirty year marriage that started when she was so very young, she lost her identity. It is something she wants back and just isn't sure how to get it back. She isn't alone with that problem as the visibly agitated blonde woman makes clear by showing up while Sidra is paying bills and clearing mail in Warren's old storefront office. The woman's name is Jewell Stone and Warren had just barely opened a file for her. With Warren dead, Jewell expects Sidra to take over and help her. Jewell is haunted by nightmares of a naked woman who she thinks might have been killed by her father, Roy Manly back when Jewell was a child. If the memories that come out of Jewel and her emotional pain aren't disturbing enough, while Jewell cries and talks, Sidra sees a small blue flame appear in the air over Jewell's head for a few seconds. Despite all the reasons not to get involved, Sidra eventually begins to investigate a sinister world of child abuse and possible murder far different than her experiences of bake sales and back stabbing church politics as a preacher's wife. This is an intense read with frequent and very graphic recounts of horrible child abuse and molestation. Such scenes are intense and very disturbing and will no doubt upset a number of readers. Author Sylvia Dickey Smith details the horrific abuse over and over again to various parties throughout the entire novel while occasionally adding a little new information at the various tellings. After awhile, the graphic abuse and molestations become a bit much and could distract readers from a compelling story. This is a shame because the main story is quite strong and would move the story along very well if allowed to do so instead of being stopped by the detailed abuse materials. The novel revolves around a thirty year old murder case and accompanying arson in the small town of Orange as well as Sidra's efforts to find herself. During the course of investigating the case, we learn quite a lot about Sidra, her relationship with her former Pastor and husband as well as the congregation, a fellow private investigator George Leger, Sidra's rather eccentric Aunt Annie, and numerous other characters along with a strong slice of life in that shadowy land full of mystique and mystery where Texas and Louisiana meet. Evil walks in many forms in this intense novel.

Atmospheric suspense, interesting protagonist

My favorite part of Sylvia Dickey Smith's new novel is her protagonist, Sidra Smart. Sid's unusual past--preacher's wife turned private eye--makes her stand out in this genre. Sid, who's trying to start over at the age of 50, gets drawn into the case in a believable way, and soon becomes deeply involved in family secrets and a long-ago crime that the villain wants desperately to remain hidden. Smith does a great job of evoking Texas Cajun country, and the plot never lets up. If you enjoy fast-paced suspense with interesting characters and a strong sense of place, you'll be glad you got to know Sidra Smart!

Dance On His Grave kept me enthralled

This mystery/suspense, written by Sylvia Dickey Smith, involves a strong, female protagonist....my kind of character. And she is funny too! The bad guy is really bad...but the issues addressed through the mystery/investigation are serious and contemporary situations. Sylvia demonstrates how we can overcome whatever life may bring us. And her title, once arrived at in the story line, is perfect. I recommend buying this book if you like good character development, great story line, and suspense. Julie Fuschak, Georgetown, Tx.