The Curse of Burr Oak Farm

The Curse of Burr Oak Farm
Author: William Mitchell Ross
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
Total Pages: 261
Release: 2021-05-04
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1664167390

Since 1841, a farm place located off Exeter Crossing Road near New Glarus Wisconsin, has seen it’s share of tragedy. A series of unnatural deaths and suicides have haunted the farm for decades. Superstition, ghosts and other paranormal activity is the legend of folklore surrounding the property. Over the years, hundreds of cars have slowly driven past the farm at dusk hoping to see a ghost or anything else to keep the myth alive. In May of 1974, a brutal murder occurred at the farm house. The wife of a prominent business man from Monroe was killed under suspicious circumstances. Green County Sheriff, Thomas Wahl, is understaffed and asked Monroe Police Chief, Brandon Johns, to handle the investigation. He agrees and along with Detective Samantha Gates begin to work their way through a maze of suspects, lies and deception in order to bring the killer to justice. At the same time, they must work through all the myths and folklore that swirls around the farm. Putting all the pieces of the puzzle together to find the killer has proved to be a very difficult challenge. As they get deeper into the investigation, their frustration grows. They seem to be missing that one piece of evidence that is hiding in plain sight. Will they find it and solve the case?

Birgitta

Birgitta
Author: William Mitchell Ross
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
Total Pages: 267
Release: 2024-04-14
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:

In the summer of 1978, in Monroe, Wisconsin, the dead body of an elderly woman is discovered in her home. Police Chief Brandon Johns and Det. Samanthia Gates are called to investigate. The crime scene indicates that a possible murder has been committed. Birgitta Nilsen, the deceased, was a very wealthy widow who lived alone in her house. Assuming inheritance money was a likely motive for her murder, they look at the family first to establish a list of suspects. As they interview the beneficiaries of Nilsen’s Will, they are confronted by a host of lies, deception, and distrust among dysfunctional family members. A third non-family beneficiary appears in the Will further complicating the investigation. As they delve deeper into the case, their increasing frustrations grow, in that none of their suspects has an alibi for the time of the murder, but, at the same time, they all had the money motive. Eventually, a possible eye witness that could identify the killer is interviewed, but the octogenarian elderly woman, who lives across the street from Nilsen, was hard of hearing, paranoid, and suffered from memory issues further hampering the investigation. Then, unexpectedly, another suspect surfaces. It was a real head scratcher for Johns and Gates as they try to unravel the mystery behind the murder. Will they get the break in the case that they need to crack it and bring the killer to justice?

The Mysterious Death of Aunt Mimi

The Mysterious Death of Aunt Mimi
Author: William Mitchell Ross
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
Total Pages: 282
Release: 2021-12-30
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1669803392

In the summer of 1976, in Monroe, Wisconsin, a straightforward cash purchase of farmland by Doris Abley to Mimi Schultz turns tragic. The purpose of the sale is to expand a horse ranch operation, Sunrise Riding Stables, owned by Ms. Abley. The horrific sudden death of Mimi Schultz at the signing is totally unexpected and shocking, negating the sale. Monroe Police Chief Brandon Johns and Det. Samantha Gates immediately launch an investigation into the death. It is a baffling case compounded by many layers of dysfunctional relationships surrounding the two families. Lies, deception, and distrust are woven into the fabric of the crime. Putting all the pieces of the puzzle together to find the killer proves to be a very difficult challenge. As they get deeper into the investigation, their frustration grows. They seem to be missing that one piece of evidence that is hiding in plain sight. Will they find it and solve the case?

The Spellbinding Tale of Fiona Brown

The Spellbinding Tale of Fiona Brown
Author: William Mitchell Ross
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
Total Pages: 280
Release: 2022-08-21
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1669844188

In the summer of 1977, in Monroe, Wisconsin, the sudden death of an elderly man who was living alone in his house looked like an accidental fall down a flight of stairs. However, Police Chief Brandon Johns and Det. Samantha Gates weren’t totally convinced. Was it a suspicious death? A week later, a second victim, an elderly woman living alone in her house, met the same fate. Were the two deaths connected? Also, in 1977, the artifacts from the burned-out house of Fiona Brown went on sale at the local antiques store. In 1952, Fiona Brown had died in the suspected arson fire of her home. At the time, she had suffered under the moniker of being a witch because of her alternative lifestyle, brewing lotions and potions as medicinal remedies for health-related illnesses. The arsonist was never identified and prosecuted for her murder. Following the two mysterious deaths in 1977, the city was suddenly cast into a firestorm of rumors about both victims having purchased Fiona Brown’s relics at the antiques store. Was that connection all the proof needed to show that Fiona’s ghost was haunting the city, seeking revenge? This stampede of hysteria was hampering the police investigation. The murders were baffling the police, who were challenged and frustrated, trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. Then suddenly, the body of a third murder victim that summer was discovered. No immediate plausible explanation or link among the three recent deaths was apparent. Did the killer of Fiona Brown resurface? The police decided to reopen the cold case of Fiona Brown, looking for answers. Would they be able to unravel the mystery of her death and bring the killer or killers to justice for the other three deaths as well?

Every Root an Anchor

Every Root an Anchor
Author: R. Bruce Allison
Publisher: Wisconsin Historical Society
Total Pages: 128
Release: 2005-04-13
Genre: History
ISBN: 0870203703

In Every Root an Anchor, writer and arborist R. Bruce Allison celebrates Wisconsin's most significant, unusual, and historic trees. More than one hundred tales introduce us to trees across the state, some remarkable for their size or age, others for their intriguing histories. From magnificent elms to beloved pines to Frank Lloyd Wright's oaks, these trees are woven into our history, contributing to our sense of place. They are anchors for time-honored customs, manifestations of our ideals, and reminders of our lives' most significant events. For this updated edition, Allison revisits the trees' histories and tells us which of these unique landmarks are still standing. He sets forth an environmental message as well, reminding us to recognize our connectedness to trees and to manage our tree resources wisely. As early Wisconsin conservationist Increase Lapham said, "Tree histories increase our love of home and improve our hearts. They deserve to be told and remembered."