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	Jackie Fleming is a mother of two, grandmother of three. She works as a 'Public Service Specialist' for the county Coroner. Before that she was in the Air Force (Non-Destruction Inspection Specialist and Personnel Technician). She's held numerous part time jobs (she's currently at a funeral home, before that she worked at Block Buster. She's also been a mystery shopper, information operator, and worked fast food. "I know that's not your normal bio, but it is me," says Jackie.   Jackie is a member of the Romance Writers of American and the following RWA chapters: SFA RWA, SV RWA, FTHRW, and RomVet's. She can be reached at jackiesf@yahoo.com.

DEKOK AND MURDER BY MELODY
A.C. Baantjer
Speck Press, July 2005, $13.00, 191 pages
ISBN: 0-9725776-9-6
 
Detective DeKok is assigned to the homicide division of the Amsterdam Police Department. Gut instinct, and a wealth of knowledge on criminal behavior has made him a respected member of the force and a great pain to his supervisors.
 
First one murder, then a second with the same MO occur within minutes--a thief with a rap sheet long enough to get him noticed but not jailed and a clean drug addict. What was the common denominator? His investigation reveals they were friends and lived in the same building, but there the similarities end. Witnesses step forward, but nobody is telling the entire truth and suspects abound. However the incriminating evidence leading to the guilty party remains a mystery.
 
Using unorthodox means to gather information and informants of non-reputable professions, Detective DeKok continues to amass clues, including a third homicide victim.
 
Mr. Baantjer’s book was well written. While he has a flair for creating strong two dimensional characters, I wished I had found more of an emotional bond with the characters. On the flip side, it kept my interest. There were so many red herrings that I had to read it to the end.
 
 Jackie Fleming

FREEZEOUT
Rick Gadziola
ECW Press, August 2005, $15.95, 274 pages
ISBN: 1-55022-689-4
 
Jake Morgan is an ex-cop with two addictions: gambling and a need for justice. The two are lethal in the city of Las Vegas when his casino boss hires him as a legit escort for his niece visiting from the east coast.
 
Angelica is attracted to Jake but as an extended relative of the city’s founding family, Jake maintains a hands off rule even when she’s in his car and stripping from her sensible cloths into evening wear.
 
A branch of the Chicago cyndicate has never believed that the location of vast undeclared money stolen from the Vegas casinos has been unknown for more than forty years. Their kidnapping attempt fails and they change to motivating Jake’s cooperation with brute force.
 
By using the glitter of Vegas, a humorous writing style of bungled misunderstandings by the characters and a well full of emotions, the clues to the missing money’s location is found, and friendships are forged, strengthened, and lost.
 
Freezeout is good fun and meant to be enjoyed as a great read. I keep wondering what further mischief will happen when Angelica returns.
 
Jackie Fleming

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