GIRL with a GUN: An Annie Oakley Mystery (Annie Oakley Mystery Series Book 1) by Kari Bovée – Historical Biographical Fiction, Traditional Detective Mysteries, Historical Mystery

From humble beginnings in rural Ohio, fifteen-year-old Annie Oakley becomes a household name when she competes in a sharpshooting competition against the renowned marksman Frank Butler. Her life changes wildly from that day on in Kari Bovée’s mystery novel, Girl With a Gun: An Annie Oakley Mystery.

Colonel Cody, also known as Buffalo Bill, asks Annie Oakley to join the Wild West Show after the event. While reluctant to leave her family – who need her support – she can help them a lot more with an impressive salary. Annie becomes the new star of the traveling show.

Along with her beloved horse Buck, Annie settles into the Wild West Show lifestyle. She immediately befriends her tent-mate Kimi and her infant daughter Winona. When Kimi turns up dead soon after, Annie suspects that something more sinister than a tragic accident killed her. She begins investigating the matter herself when no one else will. As she looks into the murder, her horse Buck and others around the camp fall ill, and it seems like someone is trying to hurt Annie and her standing in the Wild West Show. Can she figure out who wants her gone and what happened to Kimi before the murderer can strike again?

Girl with a Gun brings readers right into its historical setting, with memorable figures like Buffalo Bill, Frank Butler, and of course the protagonist Annie Oakley. The real-life facts and chronology of Annie’s life change and move around for the sake of the story, as Kari Bovée adds to the historical fiction genre with a fun mystery series that reimagines the life of the talented sharpshooter.

Annie first appears as a loveable and relatable character, and her depth becomes clear as the story continues.

Fictional news headlines reflect the story’s events in exciting tones. These headlines add flavor to the drama and underlining mystery the characters face, and reflect the public’s opinion of the conflicts within the traveling Wild West Show.

Annie’s character defines the story around her. She cares deeply for her family and friends, and  strives to protect them. Readers will get wrapped up in the trials and tribulations she faces at every turn, including a whirlwind romance.

Girl with a Gun: An Annie Oakley Mystery is the first in a trilogy of mysteries based on the exciting life of a prolific female sharpshooter. This story will excite both the casual mystery fan and historical fiction reader. This book won 1st Place in the Mystery and Mayhem Book Awards for Cozys and Not-So-Cozy Books in the 2018 CIBAs.