FMAM MOSTLY MYSTERY REVIEWS
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December 2009
Dead Air
Deborah Shlian and Linda Reid
Oceanview Publishing, December 7, 2009, $25.95, 344 pages
ISBN: 978-1-933515-50-2
Sammy Greene, a college student at Ellsford University hosts a radio talk show on campus known for its controversy. The show is called THE HOT LINE and garners a good audience of not only students but faculty as well. Sammy is convinced that Reverend Calvin Taft is behind a series of events that have occurred at the University such as the break in that resulted in the release of some lab animals. But she doesn’t have the proof. In the meantime, one of her Professors, Dr. Burton Conrad is in line for a prestigious award yet commits suicide? A student, Sergio also commits suicide. Are these suicides connected? Why would someone like Professor Conrad commit suicide, she asks?
Determined to ferret out the truth, Sammy begins to investigate. Then a student, Lucy disappears. Could this all be the work of the Revered? Sammy knows there is a story, just not what. On another front, the medical student she has been dating is fed up with the Sammy’s constantly putting him last and he breaks up with her. But when her boss tells her to do a show on suicide honoring both Sergio and Dr. Conrad, the school clinic recommends her boyfriend as the best person to go on the radio as her guest. He does and they reunite.
As Sammy continues to look into the death of the bright student Sergio, and her professor who didn’t seem depressed she begins to uncover something far bigger than she could imagine. And they know she is just around the corner.
DEAD AIR is a fast read cozy. Sammy is a smart young heroine. At times the story is a tad bit predictable but that does not detract from the enjoyability of the story or the characters. There are sad moments, aha moments, and ye ha moments!
On a scale of 1 to 5. I give it a 4.5.
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D., MHt
Wyatt's Revenge
H. Terrell Griffin
Oceanview Publishing, November 16, 2009, $24.95, 288 pages
ISBN: 978-1-933515-53-3
The Matt Royal’s series continues with WYATT’S REVENGE. Matt is a retired attorney now living in Florida Keys. His good friend, a buddy from the war has been murdered and Matt vows to hunt down the killer. This is personal. Over the years Matt has made a lot of friends. He turns to his network now in the name of discovering who killed Matt. As he puts together the pieces of who dun it, a puzzle picture emerges that he does not understand. Using his friends and cohorts Logan Hamilton and Jock Algren a scary and shocking world opens up. In the name of vengeance, Matt travels to Germany where he meets Jessica Connor, a historian and seeks out General Olenski an old Army buddy for help. Before long Jess is embroiled in all of this and refuses to leave. And then there is that spark of romance.
Why was Wyatt killed? What is the connection to Germany? Too long ago crimes? What was so important that a historian (Wyatt) had to be killed?
Reading WYATT’S REVENGE as with all of this series is like watching an action adventure movie, it is wonderful. You are on a roller coaster of action. Mr. Griffin paints an exciting picture of words. We are there with Matt as he searches for the killer or killers and the why of his friend’s demise. We are right there when he feels stirrings of excitement for Jess. It’s not like reading; it’s like being a part of the action. Nicely done!
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 4.9.
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D., MHt
Redemption
Laurel Dewey
The Story Plant, $24.95, 400 pages
ISBN: 978-0-9816087-5-4
Jane Perry was a good cop. But she is personally flawed (alcoholic) and after a bug case she resigns. She opens a PI agency. As REDEMPTION opens Jane is working with the FBI in a sting that goes horribly wrong. As she about to walk into an AA meeting she meets a woman named Kit Clark who is odd at best. Kit comes by her office the next day and tells her a strange tell odd tale of her niece having been murdered years prior by Lou Peters. Lou is now out on appeal and there is a risk he might go free. In the meantime, another girl has gone missing. Charlotte Walker. Charlotte and Kit’s niece have some similarities and yet not however Kit is convinced that Lou has taken her and soon he will kill her. Kit hires Jane to travel to Oakhurst to rescue Charlotte and prove Lou killed her niece. But things are never easy.
Lou belongs to a Fundamentalist Church group. Jane stops along the way to interview the leader. More pieces to the puzzle. Jane’s cousin interviewed the so called journalist Clinton now in town claiming he will find Charlotte, but all he cares about is the reward. He doesn’t care if Charlotte is alive is or dead.
Why is the sheriff’s son acting strangely? What is the waitress who claims she witnessed the abduction hiding? Did Trace Fagin really find Charlotte’s bracelet when he went into the forest area to relieve himself?
To discover the answers and read a well written story, read REDEMPTION. Jane Perry struggles with personal demons which at times get a bit overboard. Kit Clark is charming in her new age, woo hoo attitudes. She is fun! All in all the REPEMTION is a fascinating journey in personal discovery as well as who did it! It is worth the read!
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 4.5.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 4.8.
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D., MHt
Collision of Evil
John J. Le Beau
Oceanview Publishing, September 21, 2009, $25.95, 336 pages
ISBN: 978-1-933515-54-0
Kommissar Franz Waldbaer, a German detective is forced to join forces with a victim’s brother. Charles Hirter has been murdered and his brother Robert wants to know why. Nothing is as is it seems.
In THE COLLISION OF EVIL the past collides with the present and the future as Robert and Franz search for answers. Did Charles stumble into being at the wrong place at the wrong time or was he part of the evil known as the Third Reich? Together they discover a plot so heinous, so scary, only nightmares can compare!
Mr. Le Beau has written a complex, well executed thriller. For an edge of a seat wild ride read COLLISION OF EVIL!
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 4.
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D., MHt
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