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On Deadly Grounds
On the eve of an international G7 Summit, event coordinator Mattie Maguire discovers that the venue, a century-old estate close to Asheville, NC, is more than simply a picturesque setting. It is also the center of political conspiracies involving a ruthless Russian spy ring that will stop at nothing to steal the massive fortune they believe to be hidden there. The search intensifies and a rogue Russian agent attacks Mattie's grandmother, still living on the estate. She hovers in a coma, barely clinging to life.
As Mattie struggles to protect her family and ensure a safe event for the most important leaders in the world, her discovery of a fraudulent heir to the estate puts her own life in danger as well. But when her eighty-five-year-old grandfather is kidnapped and held at gunpoint, her path becomes clear. Despite her fear, she must locate the only person who has the information the Russians seek--the estate's rightful heir, hidden away for decades after the murder of his father. But will the true owner's return to his childhood home put his life in danger, too?
As Mattie struggles to protect her family and ensure a safe event for the most important leaders in the world, her discovery of a fraudulent heir to the estate puts her own life in danger as well. But when her eighty-five-year-old grandfather is kidnapped and held at gunpoint, her path becomes clear. Despite her fear, she must locate the only person who has the information the Russians seek--the estate's rightful heir, hidden away for decades after the murder of his father. But will the true owner's return to his childhood home put his life in danger, too?
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2020
61 people are currently reading
243 people want to read
About the author
Kaye D. Schmitz
5 books52 followersI've been writing all of my life and was first published at the age of ten. My poem, "The Garden," was a flower-filled fantasy that so surprised my parents and teacher, they all insisted I send it to the local newspaper editor. I lived in a very small town--without a lot of local news--so my poem got published!
I continued writing and had a number of poems and short stories published in my high school newspaper, as well. Whenever the editor had an empty spot, in fact, he would contact me and I would dash off a poem or short story to fill the space. My writing time dwindled during college and marriage and children and careers--other than the obligatory term papers, then corporate proposals and later, grant requests--but I still found time to write poems from my heart.
Along with constant fiction reading, singing with a group, Christmas baking and aerobic dancing, I also got a kick out of occasionally visiting psychics with my friends on Saturday afternoons. Every single psychic I ever saw looked at my palm and said, "Oh...you're a writer." While I had always believed it, I finally began to act on it and when, years later, I visited an ancient cemetery in the lowlands of Georgia, one of the spirits there reached out to me and my first novel, THE CONSORT CONSPIRACY, A Covington Family Mystery, was born.
I now live in St. Augustine, Florida, and I'm still ten-years-old inside...until I start to write, that is. At that point, tales of murder and mystery take over my being and demand to be told .
I love--in addition to my darling husband, my two awesome grown children and my four perfect grandchildren--Christmas, cartoons, circuses, carousels, and chocolate.
I continued writing and had a number of poems and short stories published in my high school newspaper, as well. Whenever the editor had an empty spot, in fact, he would contact me and I would dash off a poem or short story to fill the space. My writing time dwindled during college and marriage and children and careers--other than the obligatory term papers, then corporate proposals and later, grant requests--but I still found time to write poems from my heart.
Along with constant fiction reading, singing with a group, Christmas baking and aerobic dancing, I also got a kick out of occasionally visiting psychics with my friends on Saturday afternoons. Every single psychic I ever saw looked at my palm and said, "Oh...you're a writer." While I had always believed it, I finally began to act on it and when, years later, I visited an ancient cemetery in the lowlands of Georgia, one of the spirits there reached out to me and my first novel, THE CONSORT CONSPIRACY, A Covington Family Mystery, was born.
I now live in St. Augustine, Florida, and I'm still ten-years-old inside...until I start to write, that is. At that point, tales of murder and mystery take over my being and demand to be told .
I love--in addition to my darling husband, my two awesome grown children and my four perfect grandchildren--Christmas, cartoons, circuses, carousels, and chocolate.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 11, 2020
I loved this book and will be back soon with a review! I'm back and here's my review:
I loved this story that turned and twisted a different way just when I thought I had it all figured out. I really liked Mattie Maguire and the way she wanted to protect her grandparents as she ferreted out the bad guys! And Kaye D. Schmitz did a great job with the historical part of the story. I liked the way the pieces from the present helped solve the murder in the past. It kept me up way past my bedtime—I had to know how it ended!
While the author gave me a copy of the book, I liked it so well, I bought one for a friend!
I loved this story that turned and twisted a different way just when I thought I had it all figured out. I really liked Mattie Maguire and the way she wanted to protect her grandparents as she ferreted out the bad guys! And Kaye D. Schmitz did a great job with the historical part of the story. I liked the way the pieces from the present helped solve the murder in the past. It kept me up way past my bedtime—I had to know how it ended!
While the author gave me a copy of the book, I liked it so well, I bought one for a friend!
July 15, 2020
Interesting mystery with a lot of twists and turns
Kaye Schmitz has penned a page turner of a mystery with plenty of plot twists to keep you guessing. Her writing style keeps the action moving and the mood light, even when the subject matter turns dark. On Deadly Grounds is a captivating read.
Kaye Schmitz has penned a page turner of a mystery with plenty of plot twists to keep you guessing. Her writing style keeps the action moving and the mood light, even when the subject matter turns dark. On Deadly Grounds is a captivating read.
February 12, 2021
I thought this book was fantastic. It's elaborately written with elegant wording. Everything just flows. The back and forth time lines were intricately woven and instead of it feeling like two stories in one (like it feels sometimes with other authors) it merged in a harmonious collaboration.
I really thought that the murder mystery done in the other timeline was really interesting. I loved how there were so many details to both stories, yet, it never feels like too much is going on. Everything that you have questions about before the end of the story are answered and everything makes perfect sense.
You never knew what was going to happen or to who. And I dearly love surprises. I love books that massage my mind and make me think. It's one of my all time favorite things about reading. I live for mysteries.
All of the character's personalities are clearly defined. You know who the bad guys are and who the good guys are. And yet, there are added in elements that cause you to question even that throughout the whole book. Nothing and no one is as it seems. I quite enjoyed that.
The worst part about this book is that it ended. I didn't want the ending to come. I kept putting off finishing it just because I didn't want it to end but like all good things it eventually does.
I loved how some of the story was based on real facts and a little bit on real places. The author has done such a good job of mixing fact with fiction that everything seems to come alive because of it.
I loved all of the characters. It was easy to remember who was who even though there were so many because everyone had a clearly defined personality and for me that makes it easier.
This book made me want to move to North Carolina just to live in this house. There is just something about it, tragedy or not, that sucks you into it's charms. I love old houses with history. It gives the houses character.
I thought the Maguires were a lovely family. Even when mistakes were made, the other family members step up to help get things corrected. Mattie is my favorite. She's super intelligent, an optimist, has had a rough run at life but is also a survivor. I personally know how hard it is to overcome tragedy but the fact that day after day you're still standing makes it all worth it. And she does. She keeps moving, keeps going on day by day and finds reasons to give herself purpose. She's a lovely, polite woman who has lots of friends and just wants to make her community, state, and country proud. Who wouldn't like that?
Simone was wonderful to. She goes through a lot with her brother but she finds the ability to stand up to him. Yes, that causes issues, however the point is that she didn't let him bully her around anymore. Yes, he's family but there has to be a boundary line that should be crossed somewhere. I love female characters that are not afraid to do what needs to be done and that can still do it being a lady and being true to themselves.
The parents, grandparents were all great. I wanted to just wrap myself up in the love that I felt they had for each other. That's not something you see or feel every day. This family is a rare treasure indeed.
I felt so bad for the Sinclairs. It just seemed like so much heartache was dumped on them over and over and over. However, in the end everything was made right. And that's another thing I love: forgiveness, redemption, peace, and acceptance are so important and it's truly wonderful to be able to see that in such a way that it comes on naturally and not to be preached at.
The multiple stories and angles were wonderfully done and done in such a way that everything meshed well and it never felt like information was just flung at you then have something else fire off at you just as quickly to where it could not be absorbed.
I have been reading cozy mysteries for a very long time and truthfully I can tell you that this book is definitely in my all time top five. It's a nice refreshing change from how some of the cozy mysteries have gotten so convoluted lately. This book is like a breath of fresh air in the mystery world. I loved it. I truly did. Wonderfully done. I would give it ten stars instead of 5 if I could.
I really thought that the murder mystery done in the other timeline was really interesting. I loved how there were so many details to both stories, yet, it never feels like too much is going on. Everything that you have questions about before the end of the story are answered and everything makes perfect sense.
You never knew what was going to happen or to who. And I dearly love surprises. I love books that massage my mind and make me think. It's one of my all time favorite things about reading. I live for mysteries.
All of the character's personalities are clearly defined. You know who the bad guys are and who the good guys are. And yet, there are added in elements that cause you to question even that throughout the whole book. Nothing and no one is as it seems. I quite enjoyed that.
The worst part about this book is that it ended. I didn't want the ending to come. I kept putting off finishing it just because I didn't want it to end but like all good things it eventually does.
I loved how some of the story was based on real facts and a little bit on real places. The author has done such a good job of mixing fact with fiction that everything seems to come alive because of it.
I loved all of the characters. It was easy to remember who was who even though there were so many because everyone had a clearly defined personality and for me that makes it easier.
This book made me want to move to North Carolina just to live in this house. There is just something about it, tragedy or not, that sucks you into it's charms. I love old houses with history. It gives the houses character.
I thought the Maguires were a lovely family. Even when mistakes were made, the other family members step up to help get things corrected. Mattie is my favorite. She's super intelligent, an optimist, has had a rough run at life but is also a survivor. I personally know how hard it is to overcome tragedy but the fact that day after day you're still standing makes it all worth it. And she does. She keeps moving, keeps going on day by day and finds reasons to give herself purpose. She's a lovely, polite woman who has lots of friends and just wants to make her community, state, and country proud. Who wouldn't like that?
Simone was wonderful to. She goes through a lot with her brother but she finds the ability to stand up to him. Yes, that causes issues, however the point is that she didn't let him bully her around anymore. Yes, he's family but there has to be a boundary line that should be crossed somewhere. I love female characters that are not afraid to do what needs to be done and that can still do it being a lady and being true to themselves.
The parents, grandparents were all great. I wanted to just wrap myself up in the love that I felt they had for each other. That's not something you see or feel every day. This family is a rare treasure indeed.
I felt so bad for the Sinclairs. It just seemed like so much heartache was dumped on them over and over and over. However, in the end everything was made right. And that's another thing I love: forgiveness, redemption, peace, and acceptance are so important and it's truly wonderful to be able to see that in such a way that it comes on naturally and not to be preached at.
The multiple stories and angles were wonderfully done and done in such a way that everything meshed well and it never felt like information was just flung at you then have something else fire off at you just as quickly to where it could not be absorbed.
I have been reading cozy mysteries for a very long time and truthfully I can tell you that this book is definitely in my all time top five. It's a nice refreshing change from how some of the cozy mysteries have gotten so convoluted lately. This book is like a breath of fresh air in the mystery world. I loved it. I truly did. Wonderfully done. I would give it ten stars instead of 5 if I could.
January 2, 2022
Secrets, lies and spies!
Schmitz pens a magnetically thrilling story in On Deadly Grounds. I love it when a Legacy author sends me more of their work! The characters were dramatic and very realistic, well for secretive spies searching for a hidden treasure of sorts. This author brings the story to life. Mattie is a very strong character, even when all odds are against her and her family. A thrilling, and at some points, chilling story. This author has a great imagination and I'm glad it's being shared with stories. This story is totally believable. The best kind. It is always an honor to read this author's stories. The thrills and intrigue is written clearly, and the characterizations are engrossing. This author not only tells the story but shows it with words as well. On Deadly Grounds is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I look forward to reading many more stories by this author.
Schmitz pens a magnetically thrilling story in On Deadly Grounds. I love it when a Legacy author sends me more of their work! The characters were dramatic and very realistic, well for secretive spies searching for a hidden treasure of sorts. This author brings the story to life. Mattie is a very strong character, even when all odds are against her and her family. A thrilling, and at some points, chilling story. This author has a great imagination and I'm glad it's being shared with stories. This story is totally believable. The best kind. It is always an honor to read this author's stories. The thrills and intrigue is written clearly, and the characterizations are engrossing. This author not only tells the story but shows it with words as well. On Deadly Grounds is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I look forward to reading many more stories by this author.
June 2, 2020
Kaye did a masterful job of piquing interest, pulling you in to the characters, anchoring it in history and then rocketing forward with passion, mystery, hold-your-breath moments and an ending that was friggin' perfect. Completely engaging, spans generations and keeps you turning the page.
Don't start it before you go to bed, you won't be able to put it down. Pick it up with a cup of coffee on a weekend morning, out in the sunshine, and tell everyone to leave you alone. You will want to tumble into this book and live in their world, endlessly. LOVED it.
Don't start it before you go to bed, you won't be able to put it down. Pick it up with a cup of coffee on a weekend morning, out in the sunshine, and tell everyone to leave you alone. You will want to tumble into this book and live in their world, endlessly. LOVED it.
July 6, 2020
Wonderfully twisted story. I love how it spans over 70 plus years and the mystery just is finally put together like a good jigsaw puzzle. If you love mysteries that are not readily obvious then this book is for you. Michael Schmitz is the narrator for this book. Michael is a narrator that I had not heard before. At first, I needed to get used to his style but by chapter 2 I was so into his voice and the story it was wonderful. I was gifted this book with the understanding that I would leave an honest review and I have.
May 22, 2020
Buckle up for a wild ride! I was immediately immersed into the story from the first word. Murder,
family secrets and Russian spies kept me fully engaged in the story. I was furiously swiping the pages determined to figure out where the story was heading. The characters are brilliant. It's an enjoyable read.
Recommended for readers who enjoy espionage thrillers. Note there is mild profanity.
I borrowed a copy through Kindle Unlimited. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
family secrets and Russian spies kept me fully engaged in the story. I was furiously swiping the pages determined to figure out where the story was heading. The characters are brilliant. It's an enjoyable read.
Recommended for readers who enjoy espionage thrillers. Note there is mild profanity.
I borrowed a copy through Kindle Unlimited. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
June 17, 2020
I really enjoy novels that toggle back and forth between different time periods. Sometimes, however, the writer has trouble connecting story lines or involves too many tangential characters, resulting in a disconnect or confusion for the reader. Such is not the case with "On Deadly Grounds." This is an exciting, engrossing and easy to read novel, with well developed characters and time transitioning that works really well. A great summer read!
September 13, 2020
Each page made you read the next
This is one of those books that you never want to end but you can't read fast enough. I was reading as fast as I possibly could so I could learn what tf was going on. Each sentence was beautifully written and written in such a way that it made you forget you were reading. Absolutely beautiful prose. Amazing story. Give this book a read because you will not be able to put it down.
This is one of those books that you never want to end but you can't read fast enough. I was reading as fast as I possibly could so I could learn what tf was going on. Each sentence was beautifully written and written in such a way that it made you forget you were reading. Absolutely beautiful prose. Amazing story. Give this book a read because you will not be able to put it down.
May 8, 2020
I just LOVED this story, so rich in details, and a masterfully woven plot. I enjoyed every page of it. The historical connection to Russia and the oil scandal added to much extra flavor, I loved it!
June 14, 2020
Wonderful book!
I generally read non fiction books, but this was so close to real it was hard to put down. A real page turner. Thank you Mrs. Schmitz.
I generally read non fiction books, but this was so close to real it was hard to put down. A real page turner. Thank you Mrs. Schmitz.
July 6, 2020
Full of mystery, it kept me turning pages to figure it out. Great read.
August 18, 2020
Good Mystery
The story was well written and had a good plot. I like the way she used the past happenings and wife it into the recent happenings.
The story was well written and had a good plot. I like the way she used the past happenings and wife it into the recent happenings.
September 21, 2020
A wonderful read!
A wonderful read, drenched in historical facts yet filled with the author's imagination. Hopefully Kaye will have a new book out soon!
A wonderful read, drenched in historical facts yet filled with the author's imagination. Hopefully Kaye will have a new book out soon!
November 25, 2020
Strange but fun to read!
Mysteries are a favorite and this was a page turner. Enjoyed the different characters and how they all came together.
Mysteries are a favorite and this was a page turner. Enjoyed the different characters and how they all came together.
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February 1, 2021
This was an absolutely engrossing mystery. It was completely entertaining from start to finish! I loved the settings and descriptions. The author makes you feel like you're actually there.
I did have a few issues though. I felt like there were too many characters and families to keep track of. I found myself going back to previous chapters trying to figure out who people were and how they knew each other. There were also a few unnecessary plot points. I sure hope there's a sequel where we learn more. But they seemed to serve no purpose in this book so that was a little off-putting. It also felt like there was always too much going on. There's the Russian government, the Russian mafia, the greek mafia all mixed up in the family drama. The mind reels!
Even so, I had fun reading this book. It is fast-paced and full of action. The first few chapters are a bit slow but I read the greater part of the book in less than a day.
I received a free copy of this book from the author.
I did have a few issues though. I felt like there were too many characters and families to keep track of. I found myself going back to previous chapters trying to figure out who people were and how they knew each other. There were also a few unnecessary plot points. I sure hope there's a sequel where we learn more. But they seemed to serve no purpose in this book so that was a little off-putting. It also felt like there was always too much going on. There's the Russian government, the Russian mafia, the greek mafia all mixed up in the family drama. The mind reels!
Even so, I had fun reading this book. It is fast-paced and full of action. The first few chapters are a bit slow but I read the greater part of the book in less than a day.
I received a free copy of this book from the author.
February 2, 2021
Kaye Schmitz's On Deadly Grounds will keep you avidly reading to find the answers to its many tantalizing questions. Heroine Matilda Maguire has survived seeing her husband murdered before her eyes in a botched holdup. Now she has healed enough to take on the daunting but exciting prospect of organizing the hosting of a G-7 summit at a beautiful mansion in her North Carolina hometown. Her problems are only just beginning. The mansion is haunted by the terrible and mysterious murder some 70 years before of its wealthy owner and the tragic fate of his son, which Schmitz deftly intertwines in well-constructed time slips with the threats of Russian spies, a spiteful heir, and a murderous abuser. The author's creation of a smart, resourceful heroine who will not wilt under pressure and her system of supportive family and friends makes you care about how this intricate weaving of elements will untangle. I also liked that the story shows a woman who had been abused having found strength in therapy and a group of people who refuse to look the other way, but instead stand with her against the abuser.
February 3, 2021
While I thought the story was good, the ending was predictable. Title doesn't suggest a book 2 but since we were left wondering who TheO is, there will probably be a second book.
March 20, 2021
This book started off a bit slow and I had to read the first chapter twice, but it soon caught my interest and I was glad I stuck with it. There is a lot of plot to this one, with twists and turns. I like the main character Mattie. There is a beautiful mansion featured in the book, and a visit to Corfu - a place I've visited and just loved. The story switches from present time to the 1940s when sad things happened in the mansion. The story progresses both in the past and present at a steady pace until the conclusion. This is not a romance, but rather what I would call a drama.
May 22, 2020
Gripping page turner; keeps you guessing until the end.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews