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Betty Brandt Passick
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The Black Bag of Dr. Wiltse: Murder on The Prairie Kindle Edition

by Betty Passick (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
5.0 out of 5 stars 11 ratings
A pioneer physician leaves his beloved Canada in the mid-1850s to establish new roots in a small Iowa town in America. Only his wife knows of his attraction to murder--his well-oiled black canvas bag simply allows him into emplacements where others may not go. Still, his fellow French Canadians called him Guérisseur, Healer. Perhaps, the Canadian is also running from entanglements of the past.
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  1. Print length
    276 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    March 26, 2022
  5. Reading age
    14 - 18 years
  6. Grade level
    6 - 12
  7. File size
    4.7 MB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

--The author has again intricately woven history into an intriguing storyline in this prequel to Gangster in Our Midst. The use of language, typical in the early settlers of the Midwest, gives the novel an interesting flavor.

--A most fascinating read about life in the wilderness of the U.S. 1850-1890

--This book takes readers on a complex trip through history. The story is organized by the numerous medical challenges presented due to war, illness, misjudgment/mistreatment and murder. This book proves: not only was there a Wild West but an equally Wild Mid-West.

--99% liked the book. the most interesting part that i found was all the information in there regarding the Civil War during that time because of the surprising number of lives that were lost on both sides. Also very much enjoyed reading of the early years of the Physicians that came down from Canada and the expertise that they had at that time. Also, that they served as Vetinarians during that period of time.

View this book's reviews on Amazon

About the Author

BETTY BRANDT PASSICK grew up in a small town in Iowa, where few people would expect the idea for a Gangster Series, yet this is where she drew inspiration for her premier historical crime mystery-Gangster in Our Midst, Bookkeeper, Lieutenant, and Sometimes Hitman for Al Capone (2017), which won a 2019 Notable 100 Indie Book Award. The author returned to 'Oxbow' in 2021 to write The Black Bag of Dr. Wiltse, Murder on the Prairie, the story of a pioneer physician who finds himself in the center of horrific murders, by design. Two significant memorials preceded the novels. In addition to being an independent author, she is an inspirational speaker, and teacher, and annually speaks at dozens of venues primarily in the Iowa-Minnesota-Wisconsin region. Her writing workshops have included: "Writing a Memoir" (all ages), and "Journaling" (grades 5-7). Finally, she writes a "Gangster" blog, plus an author column for an Iowa newspaper. Her works have appeared in the Des Moines Register, and WINK magazine (poetry); Thoughts and Prayers for Those Experiencing Loss, an Anthology; Saints with Slingshots 2 (short stories)-and others. Read more at www.bettybrandtpassick.com.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09WLYJN2K
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Createspace
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 26, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.7 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 276 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0999263587
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 6 - 12
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14 - 18 years
  • Customer Reviews:
    5.0 out of 5 stars 11 ratings

About the author

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Betty Brandt Passick

Betty Brandt Passick

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BETTY BRANDT PASSICK is an independent author, inspirational speaker, and teacher who has written four books. The first two were significant memoriams. Her debut novel, Gangster in Our Midst: Bookkeeper, lieutenant and sometimes hitman for Al Capone (2017), won a 2019 Notable 100 Indie Book Award. The Black Bag of Dr. Wiltse, Murder on the Prairie (2021)—book two in the Gangster Series—also won a book award (to be announced soon). A third novel in the series will be available in summer 2023. The historical crime fiction novels are loosely based on the author’s hometown. Annually she travels to dozens of venues for author talks and writing workshops. Additionally, she writes a “Gangster Blog” plus a personal column for an Iowa newspaper. She is a member of several mystery crime writer's organizations in the region.

Customer reviews

5 out of 5 stars
11 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Tracy Moore, author of The Fire She Fights.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Black Bag Filled with History
    Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This book takes readers on a complex trip through history. The story is organized by the numerous medical challenges presented due to war, illness, misjudgment/mistreatment and murder. This book proves: not only was there a Wild West but an equally Wild Mid-West.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Jane M. Thiegs
    5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing book cover!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    The book came in great shape. Can't wait to read it!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Heike Dodge
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wacky medicine and vernacular.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2024
    Being a nurse, I found it very intriguing how they practiced medical then. It's funny anybody lived.

    I was most captivated by Betty's use of the vernacular of the time and the culture of the characters involved.
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  • Mary Jo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Storytelling -- It’s what Betty Brandt Passick does best.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2023
    “The Black Bag of Dr Wiltse: Murder on the Prairie” by Betty Brandt Passick chronicles the life and times of one Dr. Wiltse, a Dutch-born Canadian and his family as they embark on a new life in America in the mid-1850s. Their first point of contact is Dr. Wiltse’s cousin, also previously from Canada who settled in a small rural farming community in Iowa. It was with the help of this cousin that Dr. Wiltse was able to secure a roof over his family’s head while he sought out a place to set up his practice and eventually build a house of their own.

    The story is told through the voice of Dr. Wiltse and recounts the trials and tribulations and sacrifices he and his family and others like them encountered in this strange, new, and sometimes wild and lawless land. The book was written such that it was easy and quite enjoyable for me to visualize what was happening and really get into their lives. It also brought back fond memories of similar stories as told by my grandparents and other family members about stories they’d heard from their parents, grand or great-grandparents or other relatives.

    A bonus to the good storytelling is the detailed historical accounting the author weaves into the story of one Dr. Wiltse and his family as both the country’s history and the story evolve.
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  • Steve
    5.0 out of 5 stars A most fascinating read about life in the wilderness of the U.S. 1850-1890
    Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2022
    The story starts in 1854 when Dr. Wiltse and wife Phebe arrived in lower Iowa from French-speaking Canada. His relative already lived there in a cabin in the dense woods near a small town. Everyone had to be strong, brave and hard working so their families didn’t starve.

    The historical involvement of the Civil War (1861–1865) and when Lincoln was assassinated at age 56 (1909–1865) really connected these people’s story to reality.

    Dr. Alex Wilste was a “Doctor” but with only minimal and basic training, no actual medical school, which was true of all the doctors then. They worked with the few crude instruments they had until after the Civil War. Doctors who served in the war were given more surgical tools which they could take back to their small-town offices.

    The author takes us to many tragedies the farmers suffered from animals and falls and equipment. We also saw cholera kill many. Women had babies; some lived a full life while others died in childbirth or of some disease.

    Doctors from many miles around gathered regularly to discuss things. One doctor was never invited, and was left out. There was some “bad blood” between him and others, which came to a shocking ending in that small town—one doctor attacking the other. Dr. Wilste had an unexplainable interest in murders, and in the area surrounding his office, there were many.

    When the doctors finished treating the humans at a farmstead, the farmer always had an animal or two that needed fixing, so the doctor became a veterinarian for the afternoon.

    You will fall in love with these people and want to know more about their life. I sure did, and find myself telling friends about the plight of Dr. Wilste.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Robert Wiltse
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wiltse Family history revealed
    Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2022
    Ever since I saw Dr. Wiltse 10ft
    Obelisk / Grave marker in Strawberry Point Iowa, I had wanted to know what life my grandfather going back 4 generations lived. Thanks to this book I was brought back in a time that shaped the bedrock of this country. Reading this history was amazing.....Thank you, thank you , thank you Betty for choosing to capture this family history!
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  • Nadia Giordana
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating mix of medicine and crime on the early American prairies
    Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2022
    This crime mystery novel captures its audience’s attention first with the delicious historical detail from this time period in early America’s burgeoning settlements. I was struck by the medicine practiced in those days and almost became lost (delightfully so) in the daily lives of early Iowans until startled out of my immersion by first one murder, then another as the story goes on. Who knew there was such a criminal element lurking on our prairies?
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Charlotte Ressler
    5.0 out of 5 stars History of Physicians in NE Iowa in 1800's
    Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2022
    99% liked the book. the most interesting part that i found was all the information in there regarding the Civil War during that time because of the surprising number of lives that were lost on both sides. Also very much enjoyed reading of the early years of the Physicians that came down from Canada and the expertise that they had at that time. Also, that they served as Vetinarians during that period of time.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

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