FMAM MOSTLY MYSTERY REVIEWS
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May 2009
Death of a Rug Lord
Tamar Myers
Avon, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, $6.99, 294 pages
ISBN: 978-0-06-084659-6
Abigail Washburn runs an antique store in town, but business hasn't been overly great as of late. While checking out a Persian rug store, the new store owner gives Abby a deal on Persian rug she can't refuse. But the next morning, that very same owner is found murdered. Abby is no stranger to crime in her town and she sets out to solve the crime.
Her mother is dating an odd man, actually several of them. Her husband is out to sea on a shrimp boat and her friend and partner in crime fighting Bob and her discover that expensive Persian rugs are now knock-offs. But how could someone replace expensive large area rugs? And why?
And who is this irritating Big Larry her mother is hanging out with that keep popping up? And does this have anything to do with society maven Kitty Bohring’s desire to buy a title?
DEATH OF A RUG LORD is a charming cozy with a collection of odd characters that take us on a jaunt through Charleston. Tamar Myers mixes witty dialogue with her odd characters in such a way that we develop a caring for them. DEATH OF A RUG LORD is a charming novel.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 4.5.
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D., MHt
Big Money
Jack Getze
Hilliard & Harris, March 1, 2008, $16.95, 208 pages
ISBN: 1-59133-238-9
Austin Carr has been suspended as a stockbroker. He is left in charge of a small, second rate investment firm and the trouble begins. Two crime organizations battle over him as does a state investigator. And as if Austin’s luck isn't bad enough, he has not only one lady to have trouble with, he has three, all of which are desperate. One of which is deadly. He is caught in the middle of it all.
BIG MONEY takes us on a journey of through the world a trading and what if….What if a firm is used…
BIG MONEY is a clever journey through the financial world or investments with thriller thrown in – in today’s economy they almost go hand in hand! But in this story, the thrills don't affect is, they just entertain us! Jack Getze has written a story reminiscent of the noir genre.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 4.
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D., MHt
Embarking on Murder
Sue Owens Wright
Five Star Publishing, May 15, 2009, $25.99, 283 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59414-780-7
Elsie MacBean (called Beanie) celebrates her 50th birthday on a dinner cruise on Lake Tahoe. Ivy Diggs and her husband and his kids are celebrating their wedding anniversary. However, it’s not as jubilant of a celebration as Beanie’s is. Ivy throws a glass of champagne in her husband’s face and heads toward the deck and fireworks. Suddenly the boat lurches and Ivy is missing, presumed overboard.
Beanie feels that Ivy’s fall overboard was not an accident. She does convince Skip, the sheriff and her long time friend to consider the possibility.
In the meantime, Beanie must make a living in her “day” job, freelancing for the local newspaper. She is assigned to interview visiting Professor Crispin Blayne about his research in the Lake. His rugged good looks make Beanie’s heart do double time and make Skip’s strut a little taller and stronger. There is nothing like a possible new beau to bring out propriety.
The Professor is there to study the Lake and the possibility of a creature living there, Tessie, by legend.
Is there a Loch Ness type monster is the Lake? Why is someone trying to kill Beanie? Will Skip even pop for dinner that costs more than McDonalds?
EMBARKING ON MURDER is a delightful continuation of the series of Beanie and her dog Cruiser’s exploits. It is charming cozy filled with fun people like you probably know. It is a thoroughly enjoyable read. However, I felt there could have been a little more of a wrap up than we are given. That being said, the book is delightful!
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 4.8.
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D., MHt
Illegal
Paul Levine
Bantam Books, $22.00, 367 pages
ISBN: 978-0-553-80673-1
Jimmy Payne never was the greatest lawyer but he really went done hill after a car accident that took the life of his son and indirectly destroyed his marriage. His ex wife, Sharon is a cop involved with a TV personality. Jimmy blames the illegal for the tragedy as not only did he cause the accident but he ran and high tailed it back to Mexico. Jimmy went into a depression wanting to hunt down and destroy the man.
As the book opens he stands in a Judge’s chambers half naked with a gun pointed at him. He is offering the Judge a bribe for one of his cases. The Judge accepts the bribe. And the sting is in place. An IA cop has given Jimmy $50,000 to bribe the Judge. Jimmy has bribed the Judge with $45,000. When they raid the Judge’s home he calls Jimmy calls him a rat and then blows out his brains. Of course, the courthouse is a small community and everyone knows Jimmy sold out the Judge right or wrong. The IA cop is furious because $5000 is missing.
In the meantime, in Mexico, a young woman and her son need to leave Mexico quickly. Before they become separated she gives her son, Tino, Jimmy Payne’s card and tells him if they get separated and do not reconnect, go to him he helps people like them, he will help us. Of course, they get separated and Tino, a precocious twelve year finds him in Los Angeles alone and broke. He breaks into Jimmy’s office, finds and steals the $5000 as Jimmy returns to the office to retrieve the money and run from the IA detective. He catches Tino who explains to him about his mom. He brings him over to Sharon, who says help the boy or I will turn you in. Partly, because the boy in some way reminds him of his lost son and because he hopes to win Sharon back not to mention he has to get away from that IA detective Jimmy and Tino go on a wild ride through Southern California and Mexico to find Tino’s mother. Tino’s mother is bounced around and suffers unspeakable horrors in her search to find her son and freedom.
Paul Levine has not only written an exciting thriller but he has taken on a trip into the horrors of world of what illegal aliens have to endure to survive. It is riveting, scary, and the journey is exciting. You will not look at “illegal aliens” the same way again. And it is not preachy, not at all. It is more of a thrill ride with a thin moral running through it; one that you can take or leave. It does not detract from the edge of your seat excitement that Mr. Levine sets up and delivers. ILLEGAL is a thriller not to miss.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 5!
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D., MHt
Fatal February
Barbara Levenson
Oceanview Publishing, February, 1, 2009, $22.95, 253 pages
ISBN: 978-1-933515-52-6
Criminal defense attorney Mary Katz’s world is about to be turned upside down. Mary’s brother, also an attorney (but an estate attorney) recommends to Lillian Yarmouth that his sister, Mary represent her in her murder trial. Lillian is accused of murdering her husband and quite wealthy.
Mary is engaged to Frank, senior partner in the law firm she works for. Life is good until she goes to the car wash. There as she is about to leave the grounds with her sparkling new car she is rear ended by a sexy, boisterous man who then asks her to immediately assist him in a real estate deal. When he offers her a $1000, she agrees. Seems like a simple contract deal. At the close of the deal, Carlos asks her to complete another deal after the weekend. After some negotiating she agrees.
Frank walks in on Carlos and Mary in the middle of making love, calls off the engagement and fires Mary. He then wastes no time in filling a bar complaint against her for having sex with her client.
Mary must fight to save her career as well defend her client Lillian. Who was her husband and why would someone kill him? And then there is Carlos, who is this strange, hot man who is consuming her thoughts so?
FATAL FEBRUARY is an easy, fast paced read. It is a bit predictable but the rhythm of the book makes up for it. The character of Frank is a bit of maybe Ms. Levenson was headed in one direction and then changed her mind – he is at best ill defined. Her other characters have color and are enjoyable.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 4.
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D., MHt
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