About the Author: Annalou Mack
Author and avid genealogist, Annalou Mack stumbled upon a story that piqued her interest while researching her own family in northeastern Missouri. As is her nature when intrigued with a startling discovery, she delved into the records and found a little-known and ugly tale that deserved its broader place in history. This book is the result of the material uncovered and pieced together with her voice as the glue that holds it together. Annalou Mack has written two other books and lives in the Midwest.
Cold Betrayal is a suspenseful and poignant journey into a now forgotten, yet profound bit of Missouri's past. It explores the true story of Della Gibson, a farm girl living in northern Missouri in the 1890s. Farm life is hard work, but peaceful. Her dream is for her life to be a serene farm life, just like her parents, but at age sixteen she falls in love with handsome George Taylor. They marry, soon a child is born, and her future seems bright.
But George, though he is a good husband and a hard working man, often falls under the influence of his brother William (Bill) Taylor, whose wild ways have gotten both of them into trouble before, and the incident that forever changes the lives of Della and her young family that was influenced by the treachery and misdealings of George's brother, Bill.
Set against the beautiful and bucolic Missouri countryside, this is a suspenseful exploration of the human heart confronted with murder, betrayal, vengeance, loss, and loneliness. You will not forget the ending for a long time.
Annalou Mack explores how quickly our lives can change-a single incident, a hasty decision, a misunderstanding, and our hopeful expectations can be lost forever.