Behind the Scenes: FLOWER POWER FATALITY by Sally Carpenter.......a historical look by Alondra Deltoro

Flower Power Fatality by Sally Carpenter is the first book in the “Psychedelic Spy Mysteries” series. Taking place in the late 1960’s Yuletide, Indiana, the book follows the aspiring actress turned secret spy agent, Noelle McNabb, on her wildly random and unexpected hunt for the murderer of a stranger that was left on her doorstep. In trying to look into who killed this man, she stumbles across a top-secret spy agency that goes by the name of SIAMESE (Special Intelligence Apparatus for Midwest Enemy Surveillance and Espionage). In finding this agency, Noelle somehow gets herself involved with them! With the help of street smart agent Destiny King, her cat Ceebee, and the wonderfully quirky residents of Yuletide, Noelle ventures on to find out once and for all who murdered this stranger. 

Since this book takes place in 1967, I’d like to go back in time and take a look at how life was during that period in history. It’s been said that the 1960’s were tumultuous times for Americans. Not only did the president at the time (John F. Kennedy) get assassinated, there was also a draft going on for the war against Vietnam. On top of that, racism was rampant and segregation was being practiced. With these troubling times came very radical ideas from the public, in efforts to change the trajectory in which things were going. A civil rights movement emerged from all the individuals of society that were oppressed; African Americans, women, and members of the LGBTQ community. Americans were really pushed to question and ponder about the legitimacy of the government during these times. Young kids were being drafted overseas to fight in a war, the president had been killed, black people were being treated as less than human, women basically didn’t have rights....why was all of this being allowed to happen? This type of mentality is what then leads us into the Hippie Movement! The book title and cover really pay a sort of  “homage” to this aspect of the 60’s. You’ve got your peace sign emblem on the cover as well as this sort of trippy like rainbow color effect happening in the backdrop. Hippies are strong believers in promoting peace and being antiwar. As for the fun and colorful pattern going on in the backdrop, it is reminiscent of the visual effects one gets when taking the drug LSD, a commonly used drug amongst hippies. 

For a more comprehensive look into what life was like back in the 60’s, check out this link! 

https://www.history.com/topics/1960s/1960s-history

“Is there an agency like SIAMESE really out there! Are spies an actual thing? What does it take to become one?” These are all questions that popped into my head upon hearing that Noelles was working alongside a spy. Here are some articles that answer these questions:

HOW THEY GET RECRUITED: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/oct/10/the-science-of-spying-how-the-cia-secretly-recruits-academics

WHAT’S IT LIKE BEING A REAL SPY:

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17560253

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT SPIES:

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/07/mission-impossible-movie-spy-myths

The most recent book in the Psychedelic Spy Mystery series is Hippie Haven Homicide. in which amateur spy Noelle McNabb’s cat, Ceebee gets involved in Noelle's spying antics and gets used as an “acoustic kitty” to eavesdrop on an agent that goes by the name Old Scratch. In the meantime, a cult led by the “Wise One”, comes into the small town of Yuletide, Indiana to infiltrate! One of the cult members then proceeds to make an early getaway to the Spirit in the Sky only to find that Noelle is on their tail. But to Noelle's amusement...she finds herself getting into some deep water, literally! Noelle does so while being undercover as a cult member and really sells it. However, there are still some things she can’t quite get a hold of yet. Such as solving the looming mysteries over a particular family member of hers. 

Reading the plot for Hippie Haven Homicide and seeing that there is a religious sect led by an individual called “Wise One” is making me get the feeling that the author is making an allusion to real-life events and people. It reminds me of the infamous cult led by Charles Manson.  the Manson Family in the 60’s. Followers of the cult were called the “Manson Family”, which were primarily young, white women who were avid participants of the hippie movement. The Manson Family lived together in Southern California, bouncing around Los Angeles before finally settling in “Spahn Ranch, an old film-and-television set in the western San Fernando Valley”. They were notorious for killing the actress Sharon Tate in her home. For a more detailed look at who the Manson Family was, visit the link below!

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/manson-family-murders-what-need-to-know-180972655/