This is the introductory book for me from the prolific mystery writer, J.A.Jance. I picked this book up at the library because the premise sounded interesting.

A man wakes up bound and tied, in the trunk of a car. He doesn't know how he got there, or why. Suddenly he hears a noise like a train coming...

Great first chapter, which pulled me into the storyline which became more incredible in the following chapters. We find out that the man who was killed was the soon to be ex-husband of the heroine of the novel and she is the chief suspect in his death, since she stands to inherit everything. Also in the mix is the pregnant girlfriend, a domineering mother, drug dealers, a crazy Sudoko game, and blog entries.

The author is able to carry the story along, and the reader goes with her. It is only towards the middle and the end of the story when she tries to tie up the loose ends that the storyline seems to be a bit unbelievable and trite. Aren't you tired of the bad guys always being drug dealers?

A fast mystery read, with no surprises and passable prose.

The first chapter of this book is an excellent example of how to begin a mystery and keep the reader interested.

The end of the book proves my theory that when an author throws all the conflict and problems she can at a storyline, it takes a miracle to pull it off without seeming cheesy.

I will try and look for her other character lines of mysteries, since I have read reviews that this particular book was not a good example of her ability to write a great mystery.

Here is her web site: http://www.jajance.com/Site/Welcome%20.html. I hear her Beaumont line of mysteries is superior to this one.

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Created Mar 22, 2007 at 7:46am • Submit your own review...