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

What's New?

FAME (Previews)

Back Issues

FMAM Merchandise

Contests

Reviews

Columns

Guidelines

Advertise

Links

DIME

FMAM Staff

FMAM Home

	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 LAST CATO
Matilde Asensi
Rayo/Harper Collins Publishers April 6, 2006 $25.95 480 pages
ISBN: 0-06-082857-8

Dr. Ottavia Salina is a nun in the service of the Vatican as a paleographer, where she preserves sacred artifacts and documents that are the very foundation of Christianity.

She is asked to identify marks on a body of an Ethiopian man. These marks turn out to be tattoos of crosses, seven crosses to be precise and some letters. Upon her own private investigation, she finds that some wood splinters were also found by his side.

Kasper Glauser-Roist, the Swiss Guard Captain who has been known to take care of any problems of the Church has been assigned to work with Dr. Salina. Is it coincidence that Church relics are disappearing around the world? They think not. And they are joined my archaeologist Farag Boswell who smuggled out a book that described a secret brotherhood called Cato, that was created to protect the Holy Cross, the one Christ died on. And oddly enough, clues to where this cross is, is cross referenced in Dante's work the DIVINE COMEDY. Dr. Salina finds that the seven crosses on the Ethiopian represent the seven deadly sins and a possible fatal ritual one must engage in this search.

The three, Dr. Salina who was grown quite attracted to Professor Farag Boswell, he, and Kasper, join together to see if they are worthy to survive the seven deadly weaknesses -- pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust.

As they make their way through cities, caverns, and find their selves marked with crosses along the way, they learn not only about their quest but about their selves.

But do they find the Last Cato? Is it all a myth? Does Dr. Salina acknowledge her love for Professor Boswell? For those answers, you'll need to read the book.

The Last Cato is a fascinating ride through Dante's DIVINE COMEDY and the world. It is somewhat predictable but that did not detract from an enjoyable read.

On a scale of 1 to 5, I'd give a 4.3!

Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D.

MR. MONK GOES TO THE FIREHOUSE
Lee Goldberg
A Signet Book 2006 292 pages
ISBN: 0-7394-6276-8

If you a fan of the television show MONK, you'll love this book. If you never had the pleasure of watching a MONK episode, then you should read this book.

MONK is a private detective in San Francisco. He used to be a cop but after the murder of his wife he couldn't function and had to leave the force. He also suffers from OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder.

In MR. MONK GOES TO THE FIREHOUSE, his home is being fumigated and he needs a place to stay. Natalie Teeger, his assistant, takes him to a hotel. He has to see every room, and find fault with every room, driving the hotel manager to drink from the mini bar. Natalie feeling for the manager agrees to let Mr. Monk stay with her but warns him her house is not sterile. He says it will be fine.

Julie is Natalie's teenage daughter and has posted a do not enter, hazardous waste sign on her door to keep Monk out. Inside she is crying. Natalie asks why and Julie says, you'll think I'm a baby. Natalie says no I won't and Julie tells her that the mascot for the firehouse has been killed. In fact, she thinks murdered. And Monk, says, "Yes, it was murder." Julie asks how much it would cost to hire Monk to find out who killed the firehouse dog, and he responds with, "Pick up the tissue and dispose of it." And to Natalie, he says it is a hazardous waste zone.

While investigating the murder of the firehouse dog, Natalie find romance with Joe, the dog's owner and Monk's finds a murder in the ashes where the fire men were fighting the fire while the dog was murdered.

OCD is a serious condition and the television show nor Mr. Goldberg make fun of it, rather they show it as it is, with it idiosyncrasies and problems those afflicted with it have.

MR. MONK GOES TO THE FIREHOUSE is fluid, and Mr. Goldberg writes in pictures such that it is as if you are watching an episode of MONK as you are reading his prose. His words are witty, charming and so Monk. Superb! It's a fast, easy, delightful escape. An excellent read!

On a scale of 1 to 5, I'd give a 5!

Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D.

top of page

Cynthia's Archived Reviews