Plowed Over

On the wing

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Pub Date 19 Jul 2018 | Archive Date 1 Apr 2023

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Description

Lucy Prestipino has a new life, a new job, and a new look.

The U.S. Marshals Service is hiding her in a small town in the Allegheny Mountains of Western Maryland. Peter Etchers, a cantankerous deputy marshal, is protecting her from those who want her dead, but she misses her former life as a Baltimore bicycle messenger and all her old friends.

She doesn't miss Romero Sanchez, the notorious gang kingpin. She rues the day she accidentally crashed her bike into his car.

Lucy is slowly adjusting. Her job plowing snow from dangerous mountain roads provides the thrills she craves. And Maryland State Trooper Jimmy Bittinger is now a friend. Life is getting better.

Until one snowy night, she plows up a dead man.

Lucy Prestipino has a new life, a new job, and a new look.

The U.S. Marshals Service is hiding her in a small town in the Allegheny Mountains of Western Maryland. Peter Etchers, a cantankerous...


Advance Praise

From The International Review of Books

PLOWED OVER by Ellen Ann Callahan is a masterfully written mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end! Its power is in its simplicity. Once you start reading, you're immediately gripped with the protagonist, Lucy Prestipino a.k.a Happy Holiday. Lucy's character was well fleshed out, believable but really likable. She had a rather shady past, but she didn't walk around with a chip on her shoulder. She was instead kind, helpful and willing to go the extra mile for others because she knew how hard life could really be. There were times when she showed how she missed her old life and her old self, but even in those moments, she did what she thought was practical for the moment instead of wallowing in the past.

The other characters were also well developed. There's Jimmy, a Trooper who obviously had feelings for Lucy. There was also Romero, Lucy's ex-boyfriend who was involved in a gang that resulted in Lucy's need to enter WITSEC (Witness Security Protection Program.) Even the supporting characters like Deputy Peter Etcher, Lucy's WITSEC handler, and Christine White, her new-found friend were very authentic you can easily imagine them as people you've met or really known.

The book's steady pacing helped me to appreciate every moment of the story. I was not hurried nor dragged. I had the time I needed to process every bit of clue with Lucy. I thought this provided a realistic and natural flow to the development of the investigation as well as the slow-burn kind of romance woven within the novel. Further, the first-person point of view made things even more intimate. There's nothing like being able to know what Lucy herself was thinking and feeling at the moment.

Moreover, the descriptions of the scenes were brilliant. Callahan did her research well even in the technical aspects of the story such as the task of plowing snow. There was also the light touch of humor, the flawless development of the plot as well as a satisfying end that would make any reader definitely want to read more books from the same author.

From The International Review of Books

PLOWED OVER by Ellen Ann Callahan is a masterfully written mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end! Its power is in its simplicity. Once you...


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ISBN 9780996252850
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Average rating from 39 members


Featured Reviews

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It is my first book read by this author. I hope to read more books by this author.

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Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for a free RC in exchange for an honest review.

Our heroine is living a new life under the protection of the US Marshal Service, with a new name and look, in a small town in the Allegheny mountains, due to her previous involvement with a gang member in her home town of Baltimore. She's settled, but misses her old life and friends, and sometimes chafes at the restrictions placed upon her by her "Uncle Peter", the Deputy US Marshall tasked with being her direct contact. Her job as a snowplow driver is enjoyable.... until her plow turns up a dead man, and she starts investigating what happened.

I enjoyed this book, the main character is immensely likeable and the characterization is spot-on in giving the reader an understanding of how she thinks and why she acts as she does. The story is a bit slow to develop though, and the ending is foreseeable. All in all, well worth reading, and hope to read more by this author.

Goodreads review here (unable to link directly): https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/40963424

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Happy Holiday (aka Lucy Prestipino) and her dog Steppie, are now hiding out in Deep Creek, Maryland in the WITSEC program. She is not happy being “Happy” instead of Lucy and has to remind herself daily about her name. She tried to tell her handlers that she was not cut out for WITSEC, but they keep reminding her that it takes time. She has adjusted somewhat with the help of Trooper First Class James Bittinger (Jimmy) who knows about her past and has become her friend. Could he be more than a friend? Time will tell, but while Happy is out plowing snow for the town, her plow uncovers a body. She feels so terrible for the dead man even though she had nothing to do with his death. Was his death just a tragic accident? This was a humorous mystery with dialog that will make you laugh out loud as Happy fumbles her way through life and the WITSEC program. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

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This is the first book I have read by Elle Ann Callahan. The lead female character is well thought out so as the characters makes decision readers are able to understand the decision. Readers are given insight into living I witness protection and how hard it can be to leave everything and everyone they have loved behind.
The story is slow and it take awhile for readers to be able engage in the story and while it does gain speed it takes it time telling the story. The ending is predictable but the characters are what will keep readers wanting more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of Ellen Ann Callahan Plowed Over: On the Wing.

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When the main protagonist in a story is called Happy Holiday you are drawn in from the start hoping she lives up to her name. Thankfully she does. Once known as Lucy, Happy isn't finding life easy in her new skin. The witness protection service entrusted with her care find her a bit of a handful and her new boss doesn't know quite how to deal with her.

I really enjoyed this book, the people and landscape merge to provide Happy with a situation she knows she should be fine with but isn't and when she find a dead body, or he finds her, she begins a search which challenges her ideas of right and wrong once again.

This is the second book concerning the life and times of Happy/Lucy and although I haven't read the first I learned enough about it that this made sense from the get go. I liked Happy, her basic concept of right, wrong and playing fair were placed alongside the deceptions necessary for her survival in such a way that, as a reader, I was making decisions with her, for good or bad and waiting with baited breath for the outcomes. The other main characters were well rounded and whether good or bad never felt forced or superfluous. The whole book seemed realistic and never over the top. I hope Happy will make another appearance down the line; she definitely deserves to.

I was able to read a copy of this book thanks to Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it highly.

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Lucy was a bicycle messenger in a city. Next thing she knows she is in witness protection, has a new name and driving a snow plow. How awful when she plows up a dead body. She becomes investing in figuring out why he died. She is quite the character. She doesn't seem to think before she acts. Makes for an interesting story. I liked the book.

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Lucy Prestipino/Happy Holiday has a new identity under the protection of the US Marshal Peter Etchers in the mountains of Maryland. Lucy misses her ex life and friends. Romero Sanchez the gang leader is not on that list. Lucy’s job is now plowing snow until she plows up a dead body.
My first read by this author and I really enjoyed it. I believe this is book 2 in the series so I will try to get book 1 but felt I understood this book. Thought the pace was fairly fast Lucy’s/Happy’s past in the gang follows her yet she shows her strength in helping to solve a mysterious death. I felt other characters were developed and well rounded. I felt the story was realistic and it was nice to see Lucy/Happy in a much better place with decent life expectations.
Would recommend.

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Here's an excellent and very interesting plot and a well written story, with something happening all the time. The setting is also interesting, and best of all the great characters is of course Happy, a strong young woman.

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Not often I work out a key element of the mystery early but I got this one really early. Not to worry, it was entertaining confirming I was right and there were plenty of other things I hadn't worked out.

Happy Holiday (who agrees to calling someone in witness protection Happy Holiday?) ploughs up a dead body on her midnight shift clearing the roads in the mountains of West Maryland. It's obvious he was drunk, ran out of fuel and froze as a consequence. To the writer's credit, Happy doesn't immediately "have a hunch" that something's amiss but wants to give the man's wife some closure by finding out what happened his last hours.

The sex scene, not particularly explicit, caught me by surprise and I'm not sure why it was included (sex outside marriage where one party is religious read like it might have had significance).

Reservations but a good story.

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When I read that the heroine of this book is called Happy Holiday, I did wonder what sort of book it might be! However, I'm really glad I picked it up. Happy is in witness protection and has very understandable difficulties with some of the limitations of that - the lying to people she knows etc. Her investigations into the frozen dead man she discovers butts up against her need to keep safe by keeping her head down and she's advised to let it go. Without being too stupid to live (like some heroines regrettably are) she refuses to do so and gently but stubbornly continues to look into it.

Happy/Lucy is the main character in this book and I liked her a lot. While she wasn't faultless, she remained determined to do the right thing, but not in a self righteous or unbearable way. The other characters and her interactions with others were described well and the story flowed nicely. Nothing too unrealistic or jarring happened either. A good read.

I was gifted a copy of this book by netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

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PLOWED OVER: ON THE WING by Ellen Ann Callahan. Second book to feature Happy Holiday. A mystery is solved as Happy still struggles to come to terms with her life in the witness protection program. Unique and quirky supporting characters make for an enjoyable read.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

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A suspense story that will keep you turning pages... The zany main character has not caught a break in years and the rollercoaster that is her life is amazing. The side characters are complex and just as loveable.

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A true mystery until the end. I usually figure out the plot but not on this one. Interesting characters and storyline. I enjoyed!

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Plowed Over is a page turner. The first page grabs your interest and you won't be able to put it down. The characters are intense and you'll find yourself trying to solve the puzzle.

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This was a book from NetGalley
An interesting story that combines safe houses, relationships, mysterious death, that all comes together making an enjoyable read. Lucy / Happy is a complex character with an outward strong confidence only to have a fragile inner person and doubts from a past life making decisions borderline.
The back story concerning Lucy previous life was interesting the way Ellen Callahan drip fed details little by little along the way with another piece of the jigsaw building empathy for Happy.
Plowed Over is a mystery rather than a thriller well written interesting characters, great setting, and a satisfied reader.

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I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a little bit difficult to engage in the story at the beginning but going beyond the chapter 4, everything had changed and it became a real pleasure reading it.
Plowed Over (On The Wing 2) is an interesting story. I liked the variety of characters who were well designed what keep readers wanting more from the author.

Happy (the main character), her dog Steppie and her friends are adorable; I really liked the way they were taking care of her. She is part of a witness protect program and she has to do all things what she can to protect her real identity; otherwise she will be targeted by a gang who would like to kill her.

Happy is starting to rebuild her life as a snowplough driver clearing and pushing snow off roads. In the midst of a huge storm she discovered a dead body. It is then the beginning of an arousing investigation which took her for looking the causes of the death what have put her at risk.

Ellen Ann Callahan did a great job giving details on the context and describing places (mountains, raods, vehicles, small towns, landscapes, etc). It is my first book written by this author. I really enjoyed her style of writing and I am looking forward to reading more from her.

I highly recommend this book to those who like mystery-romance books.

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Plowed Over is the second book in the On the Wing series written by author Ellen Ann Callahan. Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the advance copy. I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to reading more in this series.

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Plowed Over by Ellen Ann Callahan is the 2nd book in the On The Wing mystery series, and my first book by this author. Happy Holiday is in the witness protection program, and living in a small town in Allegheny Mountains of Western Maryland. One night while working, plowing dangerous mountain roads, she runs over a man. Happy felt the dead man was trying to tell her something, so she was determined to get to the bottom of what happened to him. I really enjoyed this book, and plan on going back and reading the first book, On The Wing. I had no problem understanding this book, so it can be read as a stand alone. I recommend this book for people who enjoy mysteries.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.

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My initial review was a complaint that I couldn't open the book (see below). Within a few days I received an email from the author saying she was getting this corrected. And she did!

The mystery was good, the characters were likable, yet not perfect that none of us can compare to! There was one time that we seemed to skip ahead in time and it made me stop and wonder how I had missed that months had passed. Maybe fast reading on my part and I missed something but I don't think so. That's my only complaint -- the passing of time needs to be clearer. Went from first date to months into a relationship.

All in all, I enjoyed the book, wanted to know what would happen next, and will recommend it. She is a newly published author and I think she will be one to watch! If you haven't read this one, pick it up at your bookstore or library and give it a try. I think you'll be please. Ms Callahan, I'll be waiting for your next one!

Initial Review:
I cannot read the book as it is Kindle only and I do not have a Kindle and it will not work on Kindle for Computer Too bad. I was looking forward to previewing this book for my library. We have a huge group of thriller/mystery readers and this looked like a good one.

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I will be leaving a review on Amazon today May 27, 2019

Plowed Over by Ellen Ann Callahan is the 2nd book in the On the Wing series, and my first book by this author. The main character of the story is Happy Holiday who is in the witness protection progam and her dog Steppie. I found the book to be very well written, it moved along at a decent pace and there always seems to be something happening. I enjoyed Happy's interactions with the other characters in the book. I found the book to be full of suspense, and it kept me guessing what the final outcome would be. I would certainly recommend this to those that enjoy reading mysteries.

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Plowed Over ; On the Wing
by Ellen Ann Callahan
BookGoSocial

Happy Holiday & Steppie her insecure pooch are placed in the witness protection program and Happy ie Lucy is having a very hard time adjusting to her new life. She lives in Deep Creek Maryland running snow plows which she does enjoy and sneaks her dog aong. She is out working one night and plows up a body of a man that to her looks like he is trying to tell her something he has his hand open in a L shape. Happy has a close friend that is a trooper James Bittinger ie Jimmy whom she drags into her fight to find out the truth about what happened that night. The main character is very likeable yet about 50% into this book it did start to drag a little then it picked back up again.... You will enjoy Happy she is a great character very warm and full of zest.

Thank You to NetGalley & BooksGoSocial for a ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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As a result of a criminal investigation Lucy enters witness protection and assumes a new identity . Relocated and now known as Happy she works as a snow plough driver clearing public access areas. She seems to be getting her life back on track till one night she plows up the body of a half naked man. After viewing the body she is sure he is trying to send her a message and feels compelled to investigate his death.
I was surprised when her best friend Trooper Jimmy became a love interest then shortly after ended their relationship. It seemed a little hasty to me and gave the impression he might have been a little flakey.
Happy's little dog was a welcome addition to the story line and I enjoyed his character as much as the human ones.
It seems pretty cool to be female and drive a snow plough. I can imagine it takes a fair bit of experience and skill to handle a job like that and do it well. It also makes a nice change from the typical female occupations used in novels.
Just when I thought the author was going to start winding things up Chapter 53 took me by surprise . The twists and turns were well handled and kept my interest up.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of the book in return for an honest review

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PLOWED OVER by Ellen Ann Callahan is a well-written mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end! I enjoyed its simplicity and the protagonist, Lucy Prestipino a.k.a Happy Holiday. Her character was believable and likable. With her shady past kind, she was helpful and willing to help others. She missed her old life and her old self but didn't gloss over her past.

Lucy had to enter WITSEC (Witness Security Protection Program.) Lucy's WITSEC handler and Christine White, her new-found friend were very authentic people you've met or really known. The book's pacing was not hurried nor dragged. The story had a realistic and natural flow to the death investigation and the sexual tension of romance within the novel.

Callahan did her research well even in the technical aspects of the story such as the task of plowing snow. The author's acknowledgments impressed me with her research and the skill necessary to operate a snowplow. With an occasional light touch of humor, the plot concluded with a satisfying end

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Wasn't sure what I'd get here. I got a great read and thoroughly enjoyed it. Well written with wonderful characters. Real twist in this one.

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suspense, survivor-s-guilt, recovery, romance, amateur-sleuth, law-enforcement, Maryland, friendship

This story gives some insight into the kind of PTSD that someone in witness protection suffers and the feeling of isolation and fear that they will forever lose who they are. It is also a good mystery novel populated by some very interesting characters. I enjoyed it a lot.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from BooksGoSocial via NetGalley.

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I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. It’s a great book with a strong female character and keeps you guessing until the end. This is the second book about Lucy.

Happy Holiday - also known as - Lucy is placed in a small town in the mountains by The U.S. Marshall Service. They are hiding her there away from Romero. However, she is not finding life easy as she misses her former life and friends. Soon things change and become exciting.

As the story develops Lucy is seen slowly adjusting to her new life and job plowing snow. But, of course soon a body is discovered and she can’t help herself and begins an investigation into the frozen dead man. Her ability to unfortunately not think before she acts causes problems for her. Will she solve the mystery? Will Romero find her? You have to read the book to find out. So pick your copy, it’s well worth it.

The only thing I really did not feel was necessary was the sex scene, but overall the book was very enjoyable, especially the ending.

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The title of this book intrigued me to read and found that it was very interesting and hard to put down. Happy’s new life which enjoys but dislikes not being able to do what she used to do is making her restless. Happy risks her job by taking her dog with her, an incident causes issues and puts her on suspension. A murder mystery which leaves her feeling puzzled and delves in to solve the mystery. I love the ending and I hope that she really gets what’s deep down in her heart.
Review run date on 18 May 2020 for Netgalley and Facebook also will be posted on Amazon.com.au, goodreads, Barnes and Noble, kobo, googlebooks and iBooks. I received a complimentary copy of this book from BooksGoSocial through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My Facebook reader blog page link, is https://www.facebook.com/BlueFalkon95-Readers-blog-104660277776984
#PlowedOverOnTheWing #NetGalley

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This was an enjoyable read and very well written. Rich in detail, it tells the story of Happy who is in witness protection. The mystery was suspenseful and kept me guessing.
Many thanks to BooksGoSocial and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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I received a free electronic copy of this novel on March 14 from Netgalley, Ellen Ann Callahan, and Parks Wells Publishing LLC. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to add Ellen Ann Callahan to my favorite author's list - she writes a fast-paced novel with eye-popping word pictures about the challenges and landscaping of the Allegheny Mountains and western Maryland and clear-sighted, self-confident, daring-do females who aren't afraid to get things done. I am particularly fond of Lucy Prestipino/Happy Holliday/Lady Gelato and hope to find more works by Callahan. I can heartily recommend her to friends and family.

As a rugged, western mountain lover and resident, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about what I had considered the eastern United States 'tame' mountains, and Ellen Ann Callahan describes life in Deep Creek, MD, and environs with both affection and a dose of reality. This was for me a thoroughly enjoyable novel, and I wish I had read the Acknowledgments section first - the amount of detailed research that went into the making of this tale is impressive, to say the least. Maryland is now added to my bucket list.

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New discovery!

Ellen Ann Callahan is a new author for me. I really enjoyed her style of writing. I found the characters nicely blended into an intriguing story!

Thank you NetGalley for sending me a copy!

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Good book, keeps you guessing and wondering. Somethings are meant to be! makes you wonder about witness protection?

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Free-spirited Lucy Prestipino has a new life, a new job, and a new look. The U.S. Marshals Service has hidden her in a small town nestled in the Allegheny Mountains of Western Maryland. Peter Etchers, a cantankerous deputy marshal, protects her from those who want her dead. She grieves the loss of her former life as a Baltimore bicycle messenger. Her old friends are gone, along with her sense of self.
Lucy is slowly adjusting to the constraints of witness protection. She extricated herself from Romero Sanchez, a notorious gang kingpin. Her job plowing snow from dangerous mountain roads provides the thrills she craves. Maryland State Trooper Jimmy Bittinger warms her with his friendship. Life is getting better.
Until the snowy night she plows up a dead man.

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

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"Plowed Over" by Ellen Ann Callahan, is a gripping journey into the mysterious and snow-covered Allegheny Mountains of Western Maryland, offering a mix of thriller, small-town fiction and murder, with a small hint of romance.

One of the standout aspects of the novel is the authenticity of the characters. Lucy Prestipino, the protagonist, is a well-drawn and relatable figure, navigating her new life while carrying the weight of her past. The dynamic between Lucy and Deputy Marshal Peter Etchers is a highlight, offering a blend of tension and camaraderie that adds depth to the narrative. The small-town setting is vividly portrayed, creating a backdrop that enhances the overall mystery and suspense.

The author excels in capturing the nuances of Lucy's adjustment to her new life. Her job as a snowplow operator on treacherous mountain roads provides an unexpected source of thrills and a unique twist to the traditional female sleuth narrative. The introduction of Maryland State Trooper Jimmy Bittinger as a friend adds a layer of warmth and a hint of romance to the storyline, creating a well-rounded set of characters.

The plot unfolds seamlessly, blending Lucy's personal journey with the discovery of a dead man on a snowy night. The murder mystery is well-crafted, keeping readers engaged and guessing until the very end. The connection to Romero Sanchez, the notorious gang kingpin, adds complexity and an element of danger that propels the story forward.

While the book is an overall compelling read, it's not without its minor flaws. There are moments where the pacing feels a bit uneven, particularly in the build-up to the discovery of the dead man. Additionally, some plot points may be predictable for readers well-versed in the mystery genre.

In conclusion, "Plowed Over" is an engaging read that successfully combines elements of mystery, small-town fiction and female sleuth intrigue. Ellen Ann Callahan's ability to craft authentic characters and weave a compelling narrative makes this novel a worthwhile recommendation. It's a snowy plunge into the complexities of Lucy's new life, and I encourage fellow book enthusiasts to embrace the mystery that unfolds in the Allegheny Mountains.

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