CYNTHIA LEA CLARK, PSY.D. - MOSTLY MYSTERY REVIEWS

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	Former Miss Chicago (Miss USA), Cynthia Lea Clark continued school, graduating from Northwestern University (multiple degreed), attended nursing school, and became a Firefighter Paramedic. After working as an actress in Chicago, she moved to Los Angeles where she worked on many television shows, such as DAYS OF OUR LIVES and STAT, while continuing her education with a Masters in Psychology and then a Doctorate of Psychology. While working on STAT, she was stalked which led her to work in Forensic Psychopathology. She has over 70 interviews with serial killers, mass murderers, etc. Today she mixes Forensics with writing and acting. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, Kiss of Death Chapter of RWA, International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, and the American College of Forensic Examiners International.

THE DEEP BLUE ALIBI
Paul Levine
Bantam Books February 2006 $6.99 467 ppg
ISBN 0-440-24274-6

The second in the SOLOMON vs. LORD series begins with attorney Victoria Lord questioning her partnership with attorney Steve Solomon. Her father's former partner, Hal Griffin has asked her to come to the Keys to discuss business. Victoria wants to handle the case alone but before she can tell Steve they take a swim in the ocean where Steve tries to convince Victoria to make love but Grif's boat, the Forced Majeure IV careens toward them and the beach. Grif is found unconscious and his guest from the boat, an EP agent has a spear through his chest. While Hal Griffin is charged with murder, his son Junior returns to woo Victoria. Everyone had thought Junior and Victoria would wind up together. Junior hopes this is his second chance. Victoria steps out on her own to represent Grif, leaving Steve to wonder if it means romantically as well. To complicate matters Junior vies for Victoria's love.

Victoria is still reeling all these years later from her father's suicide, which is brought to the surface by Grif's reappearance. And if that's not enough, her mother, the Queen makes a surprise visit.

Steve petitions to clear his father's name and get back his dad's license to practice law. His dad had been disgraced when he was a Judge. But nothing is as it seems.

Someone throws oil on Steve's windshield as he and his nephew Bobby are driving and they are nearly killed. A coral snake finds it way into Victoria's bathroom. Why? Whose toes are they stepping on?

Is Uncle Grif guilty? Is Junior guilty? Who killed the EP agent? Will Solomon and Lord be sole practitioners? Will they stay together? Does Steve know Jimmy Buffet?

You'll find the answers to these and more in this engaging and fast paced novel. The dialogue is witty and fun. For just the right mixture of mystery, humor and romance read THE DEEP BLUE ALIBI by Paul Levine. Excellent! On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 5.

Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D.

HOAX
Robert K. Tannenbaum
Pocket Star Books $7.99 613 pgs
ISBN: 0-7434-5289-5

Robert Tannenbaum, a respected trial attorney and author takes us on a zany ride where in HOAX the legal community meets the world of hip hop meets corrupt politics meets church sex scandal.

Butch Karp, New York DA finds himself entrapped in the underworld of hip hop as he prosecutes a murderer. If only if it were that easy. Instead Butch butts heads with the rather powerful and corrupt wanna be mayor Andrew Kane.

His wife Marlene and daughter take a rest in Taos, hoping to rejuvenate and come to terms with her life, instead they discover that several young boys have been found dead with rosaries near them.

Kane's long arm reaches to Taos and he is tied to both the killings in New York and Taos.

Throughout the book, Butch seems to babble on about the past. Characters come and go that don't enhance or add anything to the story. The story is preachy and boring. HOAX isn't as good as the Butch and Marlene stories that preceded it. There are good moments in the book but they are over shadowed by the length, 613 pages. The book, sans some of the superfluous characters, blabbering, and description would have been far better.

On a 5 point scale, I give this book a 3.

Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D.

THE ISLAND
Heather Graham
Mira February 28, 2006 $21.95 376 pgs
ISBN: 0-7783-2283-1

Beth Anderson, her brother Ben and his daughter visit an island not far off the coast of Florida for a weekend getaway. While strolling the beach with her niece, Beth finds what she thinks is a skull. But before she can examine it, she hears others approaching and decides to cover it up till she can return for a better look.

Three other groups of campers are also on the island for a weekend of fun and diving. One of them is Kieth Henson who keeps popping up everywhere. When Beth returns to the beach the skull is gone. Did Keith take it? Someone else? Was it a skull?

At the evening cookout, all share in the food and Keith tells a story of pirates, ghosts and of a missing couple. Amber, Beth's niece, says, hey maybe that's the skull we found. Beth wonder's if the skull could be one of the old couples' and investigates when they return to the mainland.

As the manager of the Yacht club and in charge of the Summer Sizzler, Beth decides to include a dance number and lessons as part of the evening. It just so happens that the dancer was a friend of the missing couple Keith had talked about on the island. So many things seem to connect to the missing couple.

Did pirates kill the missing couple and take their boat? Is there something else going on? Who was that young couple on the island? Did they kill the couple? Who is Keith? When Amber is threatened who can Beth trust?

So many questions. They are all answered in THE ISLAND. THE ISLAND is a nice mix of romance and suspense. Ms. Graham writes like an artist, in pictures. You can see the island, feel the sand between your toes as they walk, feel the water as they dive, and feel the air waves of the bodies as they dance.

Excellent Story. On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 5.

Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D.

SIRIUS ABOUT MURDER
Sue Owens Wright
Five Star January, 2006 $25.99 269 pages
ISBN: 1-59414-364-1

Elsie MacBean, called Beanie and her faithful companion, a basset hound named Cruiser find murder is no walk in the park. The Alpine Paws Park is the subject of a heated debate. Dog lovers want it to stay a dog park and their proponents want to build expensive condos. But rather than fight out it out in the town hall, Sirius, settles it with murder.

Sirius sends e-mails to those fighting the strongest to keep the dog park alive. First, the affluent and major sponsor Abigail Haversham receives one and then is murdered at the Howloween fundraiser. Then Beanie's good friend Rosie, receives an e-mail from Sirius about Murder.

But who is Sirius? Is he a she? Is it the pet psychic? Is it the Abigail's nephew? Is it the mayor, a councilman? Who wants the park enough to kill people? And can Beanie discover their identity before she becomes the next victim?

First, I must preface this with I am a cat person, but this book made me want to go out and get a dog. What a delightful read. Ms. Wright has crafted a fast paced, easy to read cozy. I was in the park. I was in Beanie's home. I was in the dirt....You'll have to read it to know why, and it will be worth it. Excellent, fun read.

On a rating system of 1 to 5, I give it a 5.

Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D.

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