It was supposed to be a simple heist. But it became The Illinois Caper!
Tish O’Donnell and Kat Merevec just want a little payback when Tish’s philandering husband, Fitz, announces he’s leaving her and firing Kat. But their late-night heist gives the more than they bargained for. Now, in between some Mother Road sightseeing, they’re on the run from the police, a murderous fence, and a couple of Route 66 vintage car groupies who keep popping up everywhere.
Hitch a ride in the backseat of Tish’s 1957, yellow and white two-tone Buick convertible, as the two women negotiate the twists and turns of Route 66 while forging an uneasy partnership-in-crime.
Looking for a fast, light read to pack on your summer road trip?
The Illinois Caper is what you’re looking for!
The Illinois Caper is available NOW on Kindle, Nook, and Kobo readers, and at iBooks.
Prefer the sound of rustling pages? You can support your local independent bookseller by having them special order a copy for you. Or, online, buy from Bookshop.org where sales benefit independent bookstores. Amazon, too, offers a paper version.
While it’s taken longer than planned–blame the broken wrist!–in The Illinois Caper, book one of The Route 66 Steal, Kat and Tish are finally on the Mother Road, Route 66, and heading to California.
In The Illinois Caper, Kat Merevec and Tish O’Donell, “middle aged and mostly respectable,” steal a fortune, fight over underwear, dust off talents long-forgotten, learn just how fast they can cover a half mile on foot, and forge a tentative friendship.
Back in Evanston, ratfink Fitz O’Donell is trying to get himself out of the mess he’s made–and only digging in deeper.
How will this all work out?
The Illinois Caper is available NOW on Kindle, Nook, and Kobo readers, and at iBooks.
Prefer the sound of rustling pages? You can support your local independent bookseller by having them special order a copy for you. Or, online, buy from Bookshop.org where sales benefit independent bookstores. Amazon, too, offers a paper version.
We didn’t plan it this way. Really. But one of the things travelers on Route 66 think about is, well, the food. There are a number of quick bite options that the road is famous for. I think we hit most of them today.
Dogs…
First, was Henry’s Drive In in Cicero (Al Capone’s old town.) know for it’s hot dogs and fries–“It’s a meal in itself.” The lady behind the counter knew immediately that we were taste-testing Route 66, probably because we split one dog at 10:30 in the morning. But we had to try it, right? There’s a reason it’s lasted so long. Good dog, with onion, pickle, and mustard. Great, fresh, hot fries.
Burgers…
Not long after, we hit the White Castle, in Berwyn, once famous for it’s silver dollar-sized (when the US still used silver dollars) hamburgers. Essentially, they were making sliders before the world had discovered sliders. So of course, White Castle now calls it’s burgers sliders. We had the 1921 slider. It was great to stop at the first White Castle, one of the first if not the first chain fast food restaurants. But if you have to chose between Henry’s and White Castle, choose Henry’s.
Fried Chicken…
We absolutely had to stop at Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket in for fried chicken. There is a darn good reason that this restaurant has survived, despite being passed over by the freeway, and darn hard to get to. This is fine fried chicken. And the fries (yes, more fries) were excellent. By now, we were waddling. But we had to try…
Soft-Serve Ice Cream…
In Joliet, Rich & Creamy soft-serve ice cream is what’s on offer under a roof graced by the Blues Brothers. And do these people know their transient audience. In addition to a long list of confections, they offer “baby” cones: $.80 cents for a few bites so you can say you tried it. They must know that you’ve already eaten at every eatery on the Route.
Any one for dinner?
You have got to be kidding. An early night, a cup of tea, and we are done for the day.
