Broken Choices, the second installment of The Beadle Files, begins in the midst of bad omens on the high desert of New Mexico, then weaves its hard-edged suspense to the final page. For several members of the ensemble cast, both physical and supernatural threats lurk in the shadows as a dark man masquerading as a crazy-eyed scarecrow invades their consciousness. Storylines take the reader to Rooster's Barnyard on the southern outskirts of Denver, where murder precipitates a change in management; to the musty basement of a building where cans of gasoline and peculiar bundles are strategically placed by a man in black; to an unemployed nurse who is guilt-ridden and tormented by menacing nightmares; and to a seasoned policeman upchucking the contents of his stomach at a crime scene. Boss Hawkins, who has thoroughly exasperated Mandy Kilmer, is the catalyst for trauma that strikes close to home. Criminal powerbrokers initiate a scheme to neutralize, or quite possibly terminate, the Pinkerton man's crusade against them. Lifelong allies come alongside Hawkins, which puts into motion preparations that culminate in dramatic violence. In the aftermath, LC Beadle utters thoughts that tie the soul-testing adversity into a thorny Gordian knot: ""Killing someone is a broken choice, but these circumstances were precarious at best. There was no other way for the quandary to be resolved."" ""The author set the hook in the opening pages of Graveyard Promises and continues to reel the reader in with Broken Choices. There are good and bad men here, and Abell understands both equally well. The mystery gets deeper with the turn of every page."" --David Major, aficionado of mysteries woven into well told stories ""Ken R. Abell is at his best when delving into the murky depths of his character's psychological make-ups, and these talents are on full display in his latest novel Broken Choices. Each individual's decisions carry far reaching ramifications to drive the narrative. Throughout, and above all, Abell makes you feel the humanity, however flawed, of every person who populates these pages."" --William D. Hastings, author of Behind Prison Walls and Candy & Blood Ken R. Abell is a teller of tales who understands that there is strength in a story told and lived well. A consummate seeker and learner, he's a transplanted Canadian who resides in New Mexico with his wife, Anita. Among other projects, he is researching and writing the third episode of The Beadle Files. His work can be found at www.danceswithcorn.com.
