The Pretenders (The Karlin Saga)

By Marilyn Sutton

Book Five Summary (The Pretenders)Ed Karlin is director of the Children's home, a place for neglected, abused and abandoned children. The local community embraces the children at the home and often participates in activities with them, especially cooking lessons at the Yum-Yum Shack. They attend all the plays put on by the children that are written by Roseanne.Richie and Jack are two young boys who were hitch-hiking when they were picked up by Sheriff Wallace who took them to the Children's home. They were uncooperative and refused to tell the truth about where they live. Ed is about to find out more information when he is informed of a fatal automobile accident that involved three children and a close friend.Two of the individuals who survive in the accident are in the hospital in critical condition. It becomes very troubling when Ed finds out that they are somehow connected with Richie and Jack, the young boys brought to the Children's home by Sheriff Wallace. The two individuals in the hospital claim to be outlaws like Bonnie and Clyde. Much to Ed's dismay, Albert Sheedy comes back into the picture when it is discovered that the three children in the accident are his. Albert tries to prove that Ed stole his children and that the community is in cahoots with Ed. Albert is desperately trying to establish himself as a politician, not only once, but twice in different cities. His marriage to a prominent socialite is the last straw. Lois Sheedy, who is Albert's legal wife, even though incarcerated, helps to expose Albert in an unusual but hilarious way.Charlie and Sparrow are overjoyed with a new arrival of their own while Bobby Joe, the Children's home horse trainer, is holding a secret of his own.Ed is very troubled because of all the events and involves an old friend, Detective Miles Reynolds. There are so many unanswered questions. How was the accident caused that involved his close friend? Who are the two people in the hospital who claim to be Bonnie and Clyde and how are they connected to Richie and Jack? Where did Richie and Jack come from and are they in real danger? Who set Aunt Bella's cabin on fire and left a heavily sedated person inside? Will Albert Sheedy's children find a stable home? Detective Miles Reynolds becomes Uncle Miles to the children at the Children's home and quietly investigates all the strange happenings as only he can, with help from Ed and his best friend, Billy Tompkins.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1719881812
• ISBN13: 9781719881814
• Release Date: August 2018
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 145 Pages
• Weight: 0.61 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.4" x 6.0"